The key facts
- The minister is granted authority to hire staff based on interviews for the central apparatus until February 1, 2027
- The Human Capital Development Fund, the Center for Strategic Research and Assessment in Education and Science, and the Agency for Assessment of Knowledge and Skills will be established under the ministry
- The ministry's board will consist of the minister, his deputies, agency directors, and 15 members
Presidential decree adopted
A presidential decree 'On measures to organize the activities of the Ministry of Education and Science' has been adopted. According to Gazeta.uz, the document was signed on October 19 under number PQ-380. Under the decree, the Ministry of Education and Science is the authorized republican executive body in the field of education, science, and scientific activity.
Authority to hire based on interviews
The minister is granted, as an exception, the authority to hire staff directly based on interviews into the ministry's central apparatus until February 1, 2027. This provision was noted by both Kun.uz and Gazeta.uz as one of the key provisions of the decree.
Outsourcing, public council, and board
Two areas will be launched at the ministry on an outsourcing basis: a 'Call center' — for receiving citizens' appeals, complaints, suggestions, and protests, promptly reviewing them, and forwarding them to relevant organizations; and a feedback system — to ensure systematic communication with the population and staff of the education, science, and innovation system, and to promptly obtain and analyze information on the quality and popularity of educational services and existing problems. A Public Council on Education will be established under the minister, consisting of representatives of learners, students, parents, teachers, and employers. The ministry's board will be composed of the minister (chairman of the board), his deputies, directors of agencies under the ministry, as well as 15 members drawn from rectors of leading higher education institutions, scholars, and teachers.
New structures
Under the decree, a special working group on developing a strategy for human capital development and continuing education will be established under the Presidential Administration. According to Gazeta.uz, the Human Capital Development Fund and the Center for Strategic Research and Assessment in Education and Science will be established under the ministry. In addition, the Agency for Assessment of Knowledge and Skills is being established under the ministry, and the activities of the Center for Educational Development under the Ministry of Preschool and School Education are being terminated.
For reference
The Ministry of Education and Science was established by the president's decree of October 3 on the basis of the Ministry of Preschool and School Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations. On October 9, Erkinjon Turdimov, who previously served as khokim (governor) of Syrdarya region, was appointed head of the new agency. At the same time, he also took the post of First Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan.
