Education Ministry identifies 460 underperforming schools across Uzbekistan

For the 2025/26 academic year, a total of 460 schools have been included in this list of underperforming institutions. The highest number of such schools — 99 in total — is located in Kashkadarya region.

The number of underperforming schools in other regions is as follows:

• Samarkand region – 86 schools
• Surkhandarya region – 70 schools
• Jizzakh region – 36 schools
• Namangan region – 34 schools
• Syrdarya region – 32 schools
• Fergana region – 29 schools
• Karakalpakstan – 24 schools
• Andijan region – 23 schools
• Navoi region – 16 schools
• Khorezm region – 9 schools
• Bukhara region – 5 schools

According to the “Xalq ta’limi info” portal, the number of underperforming schools stood at 642 in 2023 and 545 in 2024. This year, the figure has dropped by 75 schools, indicating some progress in improving educational standards.

Salary incentives for teachers transferred to underperforming schools

Under a regulation approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2021, teachers with higher education, at least one year of pedagogical experience, and a first or highest-level qualification are eligible for additional salary incentives if they are transferred to underperforming schools from other regions.

The additional payments are as follows:

• Teachers relocated from other districts or cities within the same region receive a 50% bonus on their base salary.
• Teachers relocated from different regions receive a 100% bonus on their base salary.

If a teacher already receives a performance-based bonus from the school's director’s fund at their current workplace, they will continue receiving it for one academic year after transferring to a low-performing school.

Criteria for identifying underperforming schools

The list of underperforming general education schools is compiled jointly with the State Inspectorate for Quality Control in Education. The criteria for compiling this list are developed and approved by the Ministry of Preschool and School Education and the Inspectorate.

Evaluation is based on several indicators, including:

• The success rate of graduates in gaining admission to higher education institutions
• The school's overall rating
• Compliance with standards set for the "Modern Schools" initiative