School 21 – a step into a successful future
School 21 is a free information technology education initiative, inspired by 42 (school), founded by Xavier Niel.
School 21’s main feature is its complete rejection of the traditional educational model. The training follows a peer-to-peer format. Students work closely together without ratings or teachers. There are no lectures or lecturers, fixed schedules, traditional grades, or exams in the usual way. Students continuously collaborate on tasks. One graduate described the learning process as follows: there are no teachers and no academic schedule. Only a stream of projects, deadlines, and convenient jobs. Students take turns acting as students, then as mentors, checking and evaluating each other’s projects.
The curriculum covers a wide range of modern areas: algorithms, computer graphics, Unix, web development, mobile development, network technologies, and information security. During their studies, students master programming in C, C++, Swift, Java, PHP, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and OCaml. The full course takes 1.5 to 4 years, depending on the chosen specialization and the student’s pace.
Anyone over 18 can enroll. The admission process includes online registration, logic tests, and an in-person intensive course.
One of the network’s sites operates in Uzbekistan as a separate digital engineering school that trains specialists for the IT industry. Since December 2023, it has been led by Zarina Lukhmanova, who serves as School 21’s CEO. In addition to running the school, she also conducts teaching and scientific-educational activities in Uzbekistan.
The School 21 model combines several elements rarely found together in traditional education. It is completely free of charge, with no formal barriers to entry – diploma, age, or experience.
School 21 remains one of the most notable alternative paths for those who want to change their profession and enter IT but are not ready to spend years and money on traditional higher education.
Orash Akaboyev, UzA
