During his visit to Uzbekistan, the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, became acquainted with the activities of the Institute for Retraining and Advanced Training of Managers and Specialists of Preschool Educational Organizations, which aims to strengthen education.

This event was organized to showcase innovations that will lead to significant improvements in the professional development of preschool teachers.

It was noted that the project “Expanding access to high-quality preschool education in Uzbekistan” is supported by the IsDB. Within the framework of this project, $2.3 million has been allocated, and training centers are being improved in 11 regions jointly with the Ministry and UNICEF.

The first multimedia studio based on artificial intelligence has been opened in Tashkent, and training and advanced training programs for teachers are being developed.

“Uzbekistan is investing in its youth and paving the way for sustainable prosperity”, says Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser. “We see how modern tools unlock the potential of teachers, and innovative curricula change approaches to teaching children. The Islamic Development Bank is proud to be a partner in this endeavor and confirms its commitment to sustainable development and progressive education reforms in your country”.

In addition to the preschool education project, the most significant investment in Uzbekistan’s education sector – the SmartEd project, with a total cost of $220 million, is being implemented.

As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education and UNICEF signed a $19.2 million agreement to support educational reform, including testing inclusive education models, updating the national curriculum and assessment system, and strengthening quality control mechanisms. 

“The IsDB’s investments in Uzbekistan’s education sector are timely and strategically important”, says Regina Maria Castillo, UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan. “They fully comply with the government’s goals for the development of human capital. Teaching children from an early age is of great importance, and targeted curriculum reform will become the basis for creating a modern and sustainable education system”.

Bekhruz Khudoyberdiyev, UzA