Additional quotas and scholarships for learning and teaching foreign languages
On May 6, 2021, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held video conference on measures to improve the system of teaching foreign languages.
Nowadays, physics and foreign languages have become the priority areas of education. Despite the great achievements over the past few years, the system of teaching foreign languages has slowed down further progress. Many places for foreign language teachers in educational institutions remain vacant. The quality of teaching languages in 1.4 thousand schools is assessed as extremely low.
The meeting analyzed other problems in the field of education and identified priority tasks.
- The time has come to create a new system of teaching foreign languages, which will become a solid foundation for the future. Since we set ourselves the goal of building a competitive state, from now on, graduates of schools, lyceums, colleges and universities must be fluent in at least two foreign languages. This strict requirement should become the main criterion for the work of the head of each educational institution, - said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
As a solution, it was determined that an Agency for the Promotion of Foreign Languages Studies would be created under the Cabinet of Ministers.
The agency will be engaged in the implementation of proven methods, programs and textbooks into the education system, and will organize training in at least 10 foreign languages based on the needs of educational institutions, industries and regions.
The head of state emphasized the need to create decent conditions for teachers and stimulate them based on their qualifications.
Teachers who have received an international certificate will be introduced a salary increase in the amount of 40 to 50 percent.
The head of state proposed to establish a presidential prize to determine the best schools teaching foreign languages.
Each teacher of a foreign language will be allocated 1 million soums from the budget for the purchase of new literature and manuals that will keep abreast of the latest changes in their field. It was also instructed to develop and implement a system for teaching foreign languages to children under the age of 7.
Special attention was paid to the training of specialists for the higher education system.
It was also noted that the level of foreign language proficiency among 78 percent of university teachers is unsatisfactory.
Starting from upcoming academic year, the number of admission quotas for the study and teaching of foreign languages will be doubled - up to 16 thousand, and the state grant will triple.
At the same time a requirement for an international certificate will be introduced for applicants for master's and doctoral studies.
Teaching specialized subjects in a foreign language will be gradually introduced in higher educational institutions.
20 specialists will be sent abroad annually for MBA, funded by "El-Yurt Umidi" Foundation. This will hopefully increase the scientific and pedagogical potential.
