Legal Regulation of the Education System: General Overview

Publication date: 03.09.2025

Education is a fundamental sphere of social development, ensuring the reproduction of human capital and the formation of social stability of the state. The adoption of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Education" (No. ZRU-637 of September 23, 2020) became a key step in reforming the national education system, consolidating new principles, forms, and mechanisms of managing the educational process.

The purpose of this article is to reveal the content of the law, identify its novelties, and assess their significance for shaping a modern educational environment.

The law defines education as a systemic process of forming knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as spiritual and moral values. Among the main principles are: the priority of education, freedom of choice of the form of study, equality of access, prohibition of discrimination, the humanistic and democratic character of education, continuity and succession of learning, as well as the combination of state and public administration.

These provisions reflect the state's aspiration to integrate national values and international standards into the educational process.

System and Types of Education

According to the law, the education system in Uzbekistan is unified and continuous, including preschool, general secondary, secondary specialized, vocational, higher, postgraduate education, retraining and advanced training of personnel, as well as extracurricular education.

Of particular importance is the recognition of lifelong learning, which corresponds to global trends.

Forms of Education and Innovative Mechanisms

The law establishes a wide range of forms: full-time, part-time, evening, distance, dual, home-based learning, self-education, external studies, inclusive education, and adult learning. Distance technologies and dual education, focused on close cooperation between educational institutions and employers, are being introduced.

Such flexibility is aimed at expanding access to education and taking into account individual characteristics of learners.

State Administration in the Field of Education

The management of the education system is carried out at the level of:

The Cabinet of Ministers (approves programs, standards, licensing, and accreditation procedures);
The Ministry of Preschool and School Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (coordination, quality control, staff certification, standard development);
Local authorities (creation and financing of educational institutions, development of PPP).

This distribution of powers ensures a combination of centralized regulation and regional adaptation.

Rights and Obligations of Participants in the Educational Process

The law clearly regulates the rights of students (to free general education, health protection, academic leave, participation in the management of the institution) and their obligations (attend classes, respect teachers, preserve property, comply with the charter).

It also defines the rights and responsibilities of parents, including the obligation to ensure that children receive general secondary education.

Social Protection and Inclusion

Special attention is paid to:

social protection of students (benefits, scholarships, student loans);
protection of teachers (shortened working hours, extended annual leave);
guarantees of free education for orphans, children with disabilities, and those in need of rehabilitation.

The law establishes inclusive education as a mechanism for integrating persons with disabilities.

Accreditation and Recognition of Documents

For the first time, forms of state accreditation (comprehensive, special) are clearly differentiated, and procedures for recognition of foreign education documents and apostille certification are introduced. These measures contribute to the international integration of the education system and increase the competitiveness of national diplomas.

The Law "On Education" in Uzbekistan forms a modern legal framework aimed at ensuring equal access to education, improving the quality of training, and integrating into the global educational space. An important feature of the law is its focus on innovative forms of learning and social protection of participants in the educational process.

Thus, this law is not only a legal act but also a strategic document aimed at the long-term development of the country’s human capital.

Powers of Education Management Bodies

Governing Body

Main Powers

Additional Functions

Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan

- Determines a unified state policy in the field of education;

- Approves state programs and standards;

- Directs authorized bodies;

- Establishes the procedure for certification, licensing, and accreditation of educational organizations;

- Defines the procedure for recognition of foreign education documents;

- Appoints rectors of state universities and universities with state participation.

- Forms the state order for training personnel;

- Establishes material, technical, and infrastructure requirements for educational organizations;

- Defines the procedure for preparation and publication of textbooks;

- May exercise other powers in accordance with legislation.

Ministry of Preschool and School Education

- Develops and approves standards and requirements for preschool and general secondary education;

- Monitors compliance with standards by schools and preschools;

- Organizes training, retraining, and professional development of teachers;

- Coordinates the activities of secondary schools and extracurricular institutions.

- Issues licenses to non-state (private) educational organizations (schools, preschools);

- Determines categories of students eligible for external studies;

- Develops measures to support gifted children;

- Organizes preparation and publication of teaching materials.

Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

- Develops and approves state educational standards and qualification requirements for universities and colleges;

- Accredits and certifies universities and teaching staff;

- Defines the list of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs;

- Implements modern pedagogical technologies and the credit-modular system.

- Conducts monitoring of education quality;

- Develops measures to improve staff training;

- Issues licenses for higher and specialized secondary education institutions;

- Participates in international cooperation and integration of the education system.

Local Authorities (Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional, district, and Tashkent city khokimiyats)

- Establish, reorganize, and liquidate educational institutions (except at the republican level);

- Determine funding for schools and colleges in their territory;

- Develop regional education development programs;

- Define school admission districts.

- Promote public-private partnership (PPP);

- Assist in the employment of school graduates;

- Support inclusive education;

- Cooperate with civil society institutions.

Heads of Educational Institutions

- Carry out current management of the institution;

- Ensure the implementation of curricula and compliance with standards;

- Responsible for education quality, financial discipline, and accuracy of information on official resources;

- Organize the work of pedagogical and trustees’ councils.

- Bear personal responsibility for accreditation and institutional ranking;

- Ensure openness and transparency of activities;

- Control the preservation of property and material-technical base.

Rights and Obligations of Students and Parents

Category

Rights

Obligations

Students

- Free access to general secondary, secondary specialized, and initial vocational education;

- Admission to a state school based on residence (district);

- Freedom to choose the form of study (full-time, part-time, distance, etc.);

- Access to quality education in accordance with standards;

- Protection of life and health from physical and psychological violence;

- The right to holidays, academic leave, scholarships;

- Reinstatement in an educational institution, transfer to another form of study or specialty;

- Participation in the management of the institution and discussion of its issues;

- Free use of libraries, laboratories, gyms, and other resources;

- Participation in scientific and innovative activities.

- Acquire knowledge and skills according to curricula;

- Attend classes and prepare for them;

- Complete assignments given by teachers;

- Refrain from physical and psychological violence towards other participants;

- Comply with the charter and internal rules of the institution;

- Strive for moral and intellectual development;

- Respect the honor and dignity of others;

- Preserve the property and assets of the institution.

Parents and other legal representatives of underage students

- Ability to provide home education for children with disabilities or long-term illnesses;

- Right to transfer a child from home education to school at any stage;

- Submit proposals to improve the educational process and the school’s material base;

- Familiarize themselves with the institution’s charter, license, standards, and curricula;

- Access to their child’s learning results and teaching methods;

- Protect the rights and interests of the child, including in court without additional authorization;

- Participation in the management of the institution.

- Ensure their child receives compulsory general secondary education (11 years);

- Monitor the child’s attendance and academic performance;

- Create conditions for the intellectual and physical development of the child;

- Educate children in the spirit of patriotism, humanism, and respect for national values;

- Comply with the school’s internal rules;

- Respect the honor and dignity of participants in the educational process.