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MODERNIZATION OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN UZBEKISTAN:
EXPERIENCE, RESULTS AND PROSPECT
K. Sh. Baymirov
The process of reforming the education system in Uzbekistan is considered in this article. The author attempts to summarize the most important and noteworthy approaches to education policy modernization.
Key words: modernization, education system, education system principles, national model of education.
Modern technologies and scientific bases of educational and awarenessraising technologies are introduced at every stage of reforms in the system of republican lifelong education; the vast experience of pedagogical innovations and new experimental technologies is summarized. On the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, the issue of reforming the education system in general has become a topical and key issue in the state policy since the first years of independence. The law “On Education” and “National Program of Staff Training” substantiated the basic principles of the state policy in the field of education, and identified the system and kinds of education in the republic. These two founding documents created the necessary legal framework for progressive development of the educational system as a single educational-scientific-production complex based on state educational institutions. Thus, the national model of education has been formed. It is these legal documents that declared education the priority in the sphere of social development of the Republic of Uzbekistan, thus determining the significance of the system of education in the social-economic development of the republic.
The basic principles of the state policy in the education field were developed, such as: (a) humanistic and democratic character of teaching and education; (b) continuity and consistency of education; (c) obligatoriness of general secondary and secondary special vocational education; (d) a secular education system; (e) accessibility of education; (f) encouragement of accomplishments and talent; (g) a combination of state and public management in the education system. It should be specially noted that the principal difference of educational reforms in the Republic of Uzbekistan is the state guarantees of the creation of conditions for stagewise progressive development of the system of lifelong education and appropriate quality of education. The study and analysis of the previous education system in the Republic of Uzbekistan and the National model of staff training show that the major faults of the former staff training system include its noncompliance with the requirements of the democratic and market transformations in the country. There was no close interaction and mutual integration of the education system, science and production. The material-technical and information base of the educational process was insufficient, and incomplete in terms of provision with high quality educational-methodological and scientific literature and didactic materials. The problem of provision of close interrelation between the curriculum structure and content and the educational process was not resolved in addition to the problem of organization of the system of lifelong education. In these conditions, the
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task of fundamental reform of the entire system of education was set. Reforming the content of education in the republic demanded conformity of the quality of staff training to the requirements of the transformations carried out in the republic. On this basis, state educational standards were established that were mandatory for all kinds of educational institutions. In accordance with the requirements of reforming the content of the general secondary education, there is a mandatory and additional component. The mandatory component is determined by the state educational standard and sets the necessary level of learners training based on the learners’ needs and abilities and material-technical and staff provisions of the school. Experimental educational programs have been developed for general education schools.
It should also be noted that the modern stage of social-economic development of the Republic of Uzbekistan is related to implementation of processes of deep reforms of political and economic life, and the social sphere of society. At the present stage, the republic is building social relations based on the market economy. The Uzbek model of transition to market relations is based on regard for the specific conditions and features of the republic: traditions, customs, and lifestyle pattern.
What is the innovation of the new system of education called lifelong education? Lifelong education is the basis of the system of staff training which ensures social-economic development of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Lifelong education creates the necessary conditions for formation of a creative, socially active, spiritually rich individual, and advance training of highly qualified competitive staff.
It should also be noted that 34.5 million copies of school textbooks and study guides were published in seven languages in which teaching is carried out in our country in 2014. Free provision to the boys and girls coming to school for the first time with textbooks and school kits has become our good tradition. In 2014, almost 587,000 first graders received kits to for an amount of about 28 bln. soms. Along with this, the classrooms for studying foreign languages, especially English, have been equipped with modern information-communicational technologies and technical facilities for an amount of 45 bln. soms, which provides a solid foundation for further intensive acquisition of knowledge and skills by our children.
The new labor market conditions currently require a more flexible approach to the principal lines of development of the education system in the republic. In this connection, modernization of education is aimed at formation of a new generation of staff with high general and professional culture, and creative and social activity capable of independently finding their way in the public-political life, and setting and solving long-term tasks.
References
Каримов И. Наша главная цель - решительное продвижение по пути развития, демократического обновления и модернизации страны. Доклад на торжественном собрании, посвященном 22-й годовщине принятия Конституции Республики Узбекистан, 2014, 7 декабря. - Ташкент, «Узбекистан», 2014.
Translated from Russian by Znanije Central Translastions Bureas
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