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PIIMA: the ‘limitless’ Presidential Schools changing education in uzbekistan

The Agency for Presidential Educational Institutions of the Republic of Uzbekistan (PIIMA) has established 14 Presidential Schools across Uzbekistan to provide young people with a world-class secondary education.

These Presidential Schools aim to “prepare the next generation of leaders to actively and positively contribute to the development of Uzbekistan”. PIIMA also hopes these institutions will offer opportunities to students from all backgrounds and impact the wider public education in Uzbekistan.

Cambridge has worked with PIIMA on admissions testing, the Cambridge curriculum for STEAM subjects, teacher professional development and school leadership development. PIIMA: the Agency for Presidential Educational Institutions of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Since 2016, there has been a concerted effort to establish an education system in Uzbekistan which equips the next generation with the skills and knowledge needed to play an active role in ‘New Uzbekistan’ – the nation’s vision for a brighter future.

As part of this work, the Agency for Presidential Educational Institutions of the Republic of Uzbekistan (PIIMA) was established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in September 2019. The Presidential Schools programme

PIIMA has since established a series of 14 ‘Presidential Schools’ to combat some of the barriers to equitable and accessible education, and to give selected students in Uzbekistan access to an internationally-competitive education.

The PIIMA Presidential Schools programme aims to “support and encourage gifted youth” and produce an “intellectually-developed generation.”

The main priorities of Presidential Schools include:

Selecting and educating gifted children, creating conditions for their full development Promoting in-depth study of sciences, foreign languages, engineering and information technologies Establishing modern methods of teaching and assessing students’ knowledge Developing students’ leadership, public speaking, critical thinking and analysis skills Ensuring student participation in international Olympiads and competitions Establishing cooperation with national and international education institutions

Teacher and students in classroom. Presidential Schools: accessibility and admissions

Between 2019 and 2021, a Presidential School was built and opened in each of the 14 regions of Uzbekistan. The first four schools opened in the cities of Tashkent, Nukus, Namangan and Khiva in 2019. A further 10 schools opened from 2020 onwards, finishing with a school in the city of Gulistan in November 2021.

Map of Uzbekistan Map of the regions of Uzbekistan

This spread encourages children from throughout the nation to apply to the schools. They are selected based on a competitive admissions test, which was designed by experts at Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing.

The main selection test focuses on problem-solving and critical thinking, and it is offered in three languages – Uzbek, Karakalpak and English. The Presidential School curriculum

The Presidential Schools educate students from 11 – 18 years old and provide free general secondary education and boarding.

Students study both the Cambridge curriculum and Uzbek national curriculum subjects. Many teachers at the schools come from abroad and have significant international education experience. They are paired with teachers from Uzbekistan.

Conditions are designed to encourage high-quality STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) studies, as well as nurture leadership and critical-thinking skills. They aim to prepare students to continue their education journey at international universities around the world.

Students and teachers chat informally Students and teachers at the Tashkent Presidential School

PIIMA Presidential Schools: what do the students think?

When asked to sum up school in one word, during visits to Bukhara, Samarkand, Gulistan and Tashkent Presidential Schools in 2021, students were quick to share their excitement.

Rustam described it as “limitless”, Munisakhon said it was “fast-paced”, and for Madina, it’s a “dream”.

Malikabonu said it’s “the key that opens the door to my bright future”, while Maryam believes it’s“a path to my future career.” Word cloud