The State is the guarantor of the development of a continuous education system

It is an undeniable fact that in the XXI century, only those countries that have chosen investment in human capital as their priority will be able to achieve success in development, since accumulated knowledge and information have become strategic resources today. Uzbekistan as a part of the world community is no exception. Therefore, the country pays close attention to issues related to the training of highly qualified personnel.    

Uzbekistan has a well-structured state system of continuing education, which consists of preschool, general secondary and primary vocational education, higher, postgraduate education, advanced training and retraining of personnel. But here it is necessary to point out the peculiarity of the model proposed by our state, which implies a permanent learning process in which a person has the opportunity to acquire knowledge for a long time and further improve it. The ultimate goal of continuing education is intended to be the disclosure of all components of personality, the formation of a free-thinking person, spiritual and moral education, obtaining professional skills that will be useful for self-realization in the future.             
As for preschool education, until now the system has not been regulated from a constitutional and legal point of view. The introduction into the Constitution in a new version of the provisions that the state creates conditions for the development of preschool education and upbringing, in addition, preschool education and upbringing, general secondary education are under the supervision of the state, is very relevant and timely. This proposal was formed primarily in the process of studying international experience, constitutions of foreign countries, as well as based on the proposals and initiatives of our compatriots.     
In Uzbekistan, the state's work on the development of preschool education has been intensively conducted since 2017. Thus, a specialized Ministry of preschool Education was created, the Concept of the development of the preschool education system of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030 was adopted, which laid the legal basis for the implementation of reforms in this area. At the same time, the state will have to pay close attention to stimulating the attraction of private capital on the basis of public-private partnership in the sphere, increasing the level of coverage of children with preschool education to 80.8 percent by 2030, as well as increasing the coverage of six-year-olds with the pre-school education system to 100 percent by the end of the 2024/2025 academic year.       
Thus, the conditions created by the state for the development of preschool education and upbringing can become a real breakthrough in the reform of the entire education system, which will contribute to the preparation of the young generation for further schooling.        
The next link in the chain of continuing education is school education, aimed at the formation of basic knowledge in the training of professional personnel.               
The consolidation in the new version of the Constitution of the norm that the state guarantees free general secondary and primary vocational education, and general secondary education is compulsory, will serve as a constitutional basis for further improvement of the sphere.
It is worth noting that the work on radical transformation in the school sector in Uzbekistan is being carried out very actively. Thus, over the past six years, the legal framework aimed at improving the public education system has been updated, the Law "On Education" has been adopted in a new edition, the Concept of development of the public education system of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030, more than 20 normative legal acts of the President and the Government have been approved.       
In the Year of Caring for People and Quality Education, a number of important measures have already been taken, in particular, the introduction of free meals for primary school students in all schools has begun. And in accordance with the State Program-2023, from the 2023/2024 academic year, teaching students two foreign languages and one profession in one of the schools of each district (city), educational programs aimed at educating students in the spirit of universal and national values, patriotism are gradually put into practice.        
Thus, securing the status of a guarantor for the state in obtaining free general secondary education and primary vocational education for the younger generation, as well as securing compulsory general secondary education, will serve as a constitutional basis for the radical reform of school education.
The following amendment establishes the right of citizens to receive higher education in state educational organizations on a competitive basis at the expense of the state. In turn, higher educational organizations have the right to academic freedom, self-government, freedom of research and teaching within the limits established by law. The proposed wording in the new version of the Constitution clearly and clearly defined the role of the state in obtaining higher education on a competitive basis.
Over the past six years, significant changes have taken place in the field of higher education in Uzbekistan. So, the quotas for admission to universities have been increased, as a result, the total coverage has reached 28 percent (five years ago this figure was only nine percent). The number of state grants has increased. Also, for the second year in a row, girls from needy families are allocated two thousand places in universities. And applicants have the opportunity to choose five domestic universities for admission, test exams are now held in stages, and the points scored are announced promptly. In addition, you can apply to a university online, and it is allowed to take an entrance test, for example, to a metropolitan university, in the region of residence.  
At the same time, an important innovation can be considered the transition to a hybrid form of education (full-time, part-time, evening and distance) and an increase in the number of universities operating in the country, including private and foreign branches.
In the process of fundamental reform of the higher education system, Uzbekistan pursues the main goal - to become a competitive country investing heavily in the training of highly qualified personnel in demand on the labor market. Thus, the demand for higher education in Uzbekistan is growing every year.
In the field of education, there should be a place for new studies that take place in our society. And among them is inclusive education.    
There are a lot of young people in the country with certain health limitations who, no matter what, want to study, work and be useful to the state and society.       
It is proposed to amend the new version of the Constitution "Inclusive education and upbringing are provided for children with special educational needs in educational organizations."
Inclusive education is an innovation for our society, and we can adapt it only based on international experience. At the same time, in the implementation of the welfare state model, it is necessary not only to identify, but also to create conditions for the adaptation of young people with disabilities in the educational space of the country, their becoming full members of society.     
The links of state continuing education are also postgraduate education, advanced training and retraining of personnel. On September 6, 2019, the Presidential Decree "On additional measures to further improve the vocational education system" was adopted. And on February 26, 2021, a decree of the Cabinet of Ministers approved a regulation on the procedure for organizing the process of retraining and advanced training of managerial and pedagogical personnel of professional educational institutions. The relevance of postgraduate education, as well as advanced training and retraining of personnel are important components of the education system, which allow us not to limit ourselves to the knowledge gained at the university, but to update them and improve competencies.      
It should be emphasized that the role of highly qualified specialists in the innovative economy is great and will only grow in the future. In this regard, the constant updating of professional and personal qualities will contribute to the consistent reform of all spheres of life and activity.      
All the above-mentioned amendments to the Constitution in the new edition should give the system of continuing education a new impetus and dynamism, as well as ensure the innovative development and competitiveness of Uzbekistan on the world stage.
Ranokhon Tursunova.
Associate Professor of the Department of "Political Science" UMED, 
Doctor of Historical Sciences.