Consistent reforms are being implemented in Uzbekistan aimed at further development of the education system and training of personnel.
During the meetings, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted the importance of professional and higher education issues.
It is emphasized that some areas of professional and higher education do not meet the requirements of the modern labor market and trends in technological progress. Employers have a great need for personnel, students have the potential and desire to work, but there is no well—coordinated system that would connect them.
Changes in the field are carried out covering all stages of education. Opportunities have been used to further improve the activities of universities and to train personnel with intellectual potential.
The formation of advanced personnel requires that the content of education meets the requirements of science and industry. In this direction, a new system is being introduced to determine the appropriate skills in vocational and higher education. The standards of 100 in-demand professions will be updated taking into account the experience of Germany, Switzerland and the UK. At the same time, the qualification requirements will be adapted to the needs of employers. Teachers of vocational training will be required to study according to new standards.
Starting from the new academic year, training in technical schools will be organized on the basis of a system that ensures the connection of two components — "academic" and "working profession". In the first and second years of colleges and technical schools, curricula and requirements for teachers are equated with universities. It is also planned to introduce a credit training system in technical schools with recognition of loans received at universities. Students who have accumulated a sufficient number of credits in colleges and technical schools within two years will have the opportunity to continue their education at the university in the "2+2" or "2+3" programs.
There are many active boys and girls who are an example for their peers and participate in the process of renewal in society. But there are also those who find it difficult to find their place in life and need help. There are some shortcomings in the systematic solution of the problems of young people.
Previously, when teaching young people professions, the requirements of the labor market were almost not taken into account. How many boys and girls who graduated from a university, college or technical school faced problems when looking for a job. It often happened that in the region where the young man studied, there was no need for personnel of the profession or specialty that he received. The demand for a profession is the need of employers for a large number of relevant specialists. Thus, thousands of jobs will be created, and qualified personnel will be trained according to the requests of employers.
A system will be created that will connect colleges, technical schools and universities with employers. This will empower boys and girls.
Youth is the pillar of progress. It is necessary to pay attention to the issues of teaching young men and girls professions, ensuring their employment, and meaningful leisure activities.
There are more than 19 million young people under the age of 30 in our country. 600 thousand young people enter the labor market every year, and in the next 10 years this number will reach one million. A new stage is beginning in improving the quality of education, training young people in professions and ensuring their employment.
To organize this work, a vertical management system has been created in the mahallas, initiative youth leaders have been appointed, thanks to which young people have many opportunities, and their targeted support has been organized. The measures are being implemented in seven directions. Last year, 396 thousand young men and women in need of special care from the state were assigned responsible managers. Through individual work, 331 thousand of them were assisted in finding employment and training in professions. The number of types of assistance provided through the "youth notebook" has reached 30, the period for consideration of applications has been reduced from 30 to 5 days. Last year, according to the recommendations of youth leaders, 338 thousand boys and girls received assistance worth 444 billion soums.
These funds were used to train students, in particular, in popular professions, study foreign languages, as well as purchase working tools. Last year, 236 thousand boys and girls were employed in makhallas on the basis of the Youth Employment Program, 189 thousand school graduates were covered by the system of higher and vocational education.
But there are still many pressing issues in the field that need to be addressed. There are more than 700 thousand unemployed young people in the country.
In order to organize more accurate and targeted work with young people, 9 million young people aged 14 to 30 years were studied. At the same time, for the first time, the data of 25 ministries and departments are integrated into a single database. The social situation, abilities and interests are investigated, measures for the implementation of the mechanism of work "from the mahalla to the ministry" are determined.
In 2021, the practice of refunding social tax to enterprises that hired young people under the age of 25 was introduced. Over the past period, more than 9 thousand enterprises have taken advantage of this opportunity and 100,000 young people have been employed. The effect of the preference is extended for another two years.
As the President noted, educated youth is the foundation of the future. With today's efforts, she is laying the foundation for the further development of the country.
Dilshod Kholmatov,
Vice-rector of Namangan State University
, PhD in Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor.