Photo: yuz.uz
Uzbekistan will establish an Agency for Vocational Education that will focus on improving the employability of technical school graduates. The new institution was created under a presidential decree signed by Shavkat Mirziyoyev on October 23, according to the Ministry of Justice’s Telegram channel.
The main goal of the decree is to enhance the management system for vocational education and training, ensuring a unified approach to these processes. The document also outlines measures to effectively introduce advanced international practices and to train highly qualified specialists in line with global standards.
Graduates of technical schools and courses that provide professional education based on state standards will now receive officially recognized diplomas and certificates. The newly created Agency for Vocational Education will oversee this process.
Under the presidential decree, regional councils for the development of vocational education will be established under the Council of Ministers of Karakalpakstan, as well as in the hokimiyats (administrations) of the regions and the city of Tashkent. The councils will be approved by the heads of these jurisdictions and will include leaders of major companies and organizations, along with representatives from regional departments of ministries and agencies.
According to the Ministry of Justice, Mirziyoyev also signed a resolution on October 23 outlining the key targets for reforming the vocational education system by 2030, including:
👉 Increasing the number of technical schools offering international or joint programs to 250;
👉 Raising the share of ninth-grade graduates entering vocational education from 29 percent to 50 percent;
👉 Expanding the number of teachers participating in international training and internship programs from 100 to 2,500.
The resolution also allows tenth-grade school students to transfer to technical schools.
Starting in 2026, Uzbekistan will celebrate May 5 as the Day of Profession and Labor. The holiday will feature events promoting the appeal of skilled professions—especially among young people—and the value of vocational education.
Mirziyoyev first announced the creation of the Agency for Vocational Education in September of this year. Emphasizing the urgency of reform, he noted that while Uzbekistan currently has 598 technical schools with capacity for 450,000 students, graduate employment remains low.
According to the president, the new agency will implement a modern education system based on international standards, training specialists in line with the needs of investors and major enterprises. He added that one of the government’s most important tasks is to ensure that young people can acquire professions and earn stable incomes.
