A case study: insights from the public education system of uzbekistan

Academic Research in Educational Sciences 
Volume 3 | Issue 8 | 2022 
ISSN: 2181-1385 
Cite-Factor: 0,89 | SIS: 1,12 | SJIF: 5,7 | UIF: 6,1 
 
 
 
 
 
130
 
August, 2022 
https://t.me/ares_uz Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal 
School-age population by education level in 2020 
Table 1. Compulsory education lasts 12 years from age 7 to age 18 (for primary to post-secondary 
education, the academic year begins in September and ends in May) 
 *in millions 
Source: Authoring 
The structure of the school system is primary in Uzbekistan. The type of school 
providing this education is a primary school (Grades 1-4). The length of the program 
is 4 years starting from age of 6 to 10 years (Shaturaev, 2021d).
In 2017, education reforms in Uzbekistan changed from a 12-year program to 
11 years after a previous reform disappointed and troubled parents and children 
(Shaturaev, 2021d). Eleven years of primary and secondary education are obligatory, 
starting at age seven (Erkinova Saida, 2022). The rate of attendance in those grades is 
high, although the figure is significantly lower in rural areas than in urban centers. 
Preschool registration has decreased significantly since 1991 (Shaturaev, 2014). The 
official literacy rate is 99 percent (Ministry of Public Education, 2017). However, in 
the post-Soviet era educational standards have fallen. Funding and training have not 
been sufficient to effectively educate the expanding younger cohorts of the 
population. Between 1992 and 2004, government spending on education dropped 
from 12 percent to 6.3 percent of gross domestic product (World Education Forum, 
2015). In 2006 education’s share of the budget increased to 8.1percent (Shaturaev, 
2021d). Lack of budgetary support has been more noticeable at the primary and 
secondary levels, as the government has continued to subsidize university students. 
Between 1992 and 2001, university attendance dropped from 19 percent of the 
college-age population to 6.4 percent. The three largest of Uzbekistan's 63 institutions 
of higher learning are in Nukus, Samarkand, and Tashkent, with all three being state-
funded (Shaturaev, 2014).