School canteen rentals in Uzbekistan are conducted through an electronic auction platform

A new system for the technical maintenance of educational institutions is being developed in Uzbekistan, which involves the participation of the private sector. The Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services, Sherzod Khidoyatov, announced this initiative on October 13 during the 'Government Hour' at the Oliy Majlis Legislative Chamber.

Deputy Dilnoza Azizova, representing the 'Milliy Tiklanish' party, raised the issue of low quality in the construction and repair of social facilities, including schools, kindergartens, and roads. She requested information on whether the ministry is studying foreign experience regarding the broader involvement of private companies in such work.

Sherzod Khidoyatov confirmed the existence of problems with the condition of educational buildings. He noted that the issue of operating schools and kindergartens in the republic is extremely relevant, and after the president raised this problem, corresponding joint work began with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education (which has been transformed into the Ministry of Education and Science).

The first step in implementing the project will be the passportization of all schools and kindergartens in the country. Currently, design organizations are assessing the technical condition of buildings, including roofs, heating systems, and boiler equipment, and are also analyzing the types of fuel used, such as coal and gas. Based on the collected data, a list of necessary repair works will be determined. Standards for the future operation of both existing and new educational institutions are being developed in parallel.

Khidoyatov reported that joint development of regulations is underway, and proposals have been put forward so that managing service companies that serve residential buildings near schools and kindergartens can also provide their services to these institutions. This issue is also being discussed with the Ministry of Economy and Finance. In the long term, the private sector is planned to be involved in the technical maintenance of educational facilities.

The minister emphasized that currently, maintenance is carried out by employees of the schools and kindergartens themselves, but this model does not meet modern requirements. In particular, new educational institutions are equipped with more complex engineering equipment, such as modern heat pumps, whose operation requires qualified specialists.

Uzbekistan plans the annual training of one million young citizens in areas such as robotics, computer game creation, startup launching, and other promising fields. To achieve this goal, educational initiatives for schoolchildren will be expanded, new courses launched, and curricula updated in higher education institutions.

These plans were announced at a presentation on the development of digital education before President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. For schoolchildren, there is a plan to expand the 'Al-Khwarizmi Heirs' and 'Five Million Artificial Intelligence Leaders' projects. Furthermore, interaction will be established between schools, universities, and private training centers, and national trainers will be prepared to ensure the scaling of education.

In universities, the focus will be on in-depth training of specialists in artificial intelligence, microchip design, unmanned technologies, and game development. Special attention will be paid to microelectronics, embedded systems, and the Internet of Things. Students will be more actively involved in practical projects, and scientific research should be integrated into real developments through the support of research laboratories and engineering projects.

There is also a provision for improving the qualifications of informatics teachers in the field of artificial intelligence, followed by certification. University students will be given expanded access to international courses in digital technologies. It is planned to open centers for training iOS developers, building on the experience of Fergana, and to prepare mentors for private training centers.

The authorities also aim to accelerate the launch of online platforms and short-term courses so that young people have the opportunity to acquire new knowledge not only in large settlements but also in regions. It is worth noting that as the chairman of the CIS in 2027, Uzbekistan intends to hold over one hundred events, among which key themes will be robotization, artificial intelligence, as well as scientific cooperation and education in the Commonwealth countries.