The key facts
- Turdimov: 'There is no need to discover America when opening something new' — the main thing is to establish order and requirements
- The private sector should take part of the burden off the state, but support does not mean abandoning oversight
- Mass replacement of personnel will not solve the problems — decisions will be made based on analysis
Interview at the summit in Samarkand
Within the framework of the World Summit 'Investments in Children's Wellbeing' taking place in Samarkand, Minister of Education and Science Erkinjon Turdimov gave an interview to the media, speaking about the sector's priority tasks, personnel policy, and support for private education. According to him, in the system what matters more is not the adoption of new laws, but the effective use of existing opportunities, establishing order and requirements. He also noted that parents and the public bear responsibility for the quality of education.
Education as an investment
The Minister assessed education as an investment in the country's future. 'If we invest in our children, they will return to us in a very large volume. If we want to improve society and boldly step forward into development, we must, without a doubt, invest in education and the future,' Gazeta quotes him as saying. He emphasized that every leader and citizen must recognize their role and responsibility in the education system, and parents should not remain indifferent to their children's studies.
Priorities of the ministry
According to Turdimov, the ministry's main tasks are defined by legislation, and it implements state policy in the field of education. Along with quality instruction, priority is given to raising children and fostering a sense of patriotism. Answering the question of when the ministry may consider its task fulfilled, he said that his work should be felt in kindergartens, schools, and universities and earn the trust of the people.
Support for private education
The Minister stated that the development of private education is important: the private sector can take on part of the state's educational burden. However, support for private institutions does not mean leaving them without oversight. 'We must closely assist representatives of the private sector who fully comply with state and educational standards, contribute to training quality specialists of tomorrow, and have their own base for this,' the publication quotes him as saying.
Personnel policy
Journalists asked whether attention would be given to replacing personnel in the regions after the renewal of the ministry's leadership. Turdimov noted that the effectiveness of the system primarily depends on personnel, but simply replacing employees will not solve the problems — decisions are made based on analysis. 'Personnel decide everything. Replacing a person will not end the matter. Everyone must fulfill their task, everyone must pull this work together. Those who cannot pull the cart drop out,' he said. The Minister was unable to name which leaders or employees in which regions would be replaced, emphasizing the need to analyze the work at lower levels.
'Education is everyone's business'
When asked about innovations, Turdimov replied that it is important to properly use the available opportunities and fulfill the established requirements. 'There is no need to discover America when opening something new. Today the state has created all the conditions. I am not doing anything, only establishing order and requirements, and by means of this I want to achieve an effective result tomorrow. Everything is there for study,' Gazeta quotes him as saying. He emphasized that raising the quality of education is a task not only for the ministry and teachers: parents should monitor their children's lessons, regularly study with them, and actively participate in the educational process. 'If we do not work together with the child, we will simply scold the teacher. When will the teacher's status rise? When we change our attitude toward them,' the Minister added. In his opinion, for changes in the system, the ministry, parents, and the public must act together.
