Thanks to determination and courage, the students and teachers of our country were relieved of hard work, and even in the autumn months, schools and universities were filled with the cheerful laughter of our children.

      It would not be a mistake to say that February 1, 2024 went down in the history of Uzbekistan as a period of fundamental turning point in the development of the education system. Because on this day, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a very important document in the field of education - the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Status of a Teacher”. This document is a clear expression of real concern for the future of the country and the fact that education occupies a decisive place in the development strategy of the state.

      Previously, teachers, medical workers and other representatives of the social sphere were not engaged in their professional activities, pupils and students were not engaged in reading, but were engaged in picking cotton throughout the autumn season. With the onset of autumn, teachers and students were sent to pick cotton, who, in harsh conditions, did not return from the field until late autumn. In addition, boys who are still studying in schools will be involved in this hard work, and no one will think about the quality of education, about ensuring that young people grow up healthy. This behavior, which jeopardizes the future of the country, thereby its security, is a failure of the previous salt regime, and for more than 70 years no one dared to put an end to it. Fortunately, thanks to the personal initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, students and pupils of our country, as well as their mentors, got rid of hard work, and even in the autumn months, schools and universities were filled with the cheerful laughter of our children.

      Indeed, thanks to the political will of the leader of our country, such important results were achieved in a short time. This specific goal and long-term policy constitute the essence of building a modern, comprehensively developed New Uzbekistan. Today, the main goal of every reform and renewal is aimed at the well-being of society and the interests of citizens. The rise of society, the development of individuals and specialists capable of becoming leaders in various fields in the future, largely depends on teachers and their work. In subsequent years, efforts were made to improve the status of the teaching profession in our country. The main purpose of the above-mentioned new law is to define the rights and responsibilities of teachers, to determine the principles of fair remuneration, incentives and social protection of their work. This document not only introduces new rules in the field of education, but also creates favorable organizational and legal conditions for more effective work of teachers.

    One of the important aspects of the law is that special attention is paid to the social protection of teachers and recognition of their position in society. Recognition of the importance of the role of the teacher in the formation of the younger generation undoubtedly serves to increase the prestige and status of the teacher in society. An undeniable success is that in recent years the monthly salaries of teachers have increased, additional payments have been introduced, and the teaching load has been optimized taking into account the high requirements of educational standards. These measures are aimed not only at supporting and encouraging the work of teachers, but also at improving the quality of education in our country. This law not only sets high standards for our country's education system, but also protects the rights and interests of teachers in the field of education. Its adoption will raise education to a new level, at which the professional and labor rights of teachers will be of particular importance. Based on the labor legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, this law guarantees not only support for teachers, but also protection from interference in their professional activities. It is now prohibited to influence the correct assessment of the knowledge of pupils and students, as well as to interfere in their educational process. Employers cannot employ teachers in non-professional work, such as landscaping or agricultural work. Most importantly, the law protects teachers from having to file reports and provide information unrelated to their professional duties. The law makes clear that forcing teachers to purchase goods and services without their consent and deducting funds for these goods and services from their salaries is not permitted.

      In terms of educational support, teachers are provided with teaching aids and primary educational materials at the expense of the state. These are measures aimed at ensuring a high level of education and facilitating the work of teachers. The law also provides for the possibility of involving teachers in political and social events. However, this happens only with their consent, a signed contract and additional payment. This is a vivid example of respect for one’s professional time and conscious participation in important government affairs. It is very important to note that any form of administrative coercion in the work of a teacher, as well as illegal interference in his professional activities, is prosecuted in accordance with the law. In general, the signing of the law “On the Status of Teachers” is a confirmation of the desire to support the education system of our country, improve the working conditions of teachers, who are respected as parents, and recognize the importance of their role in society. Without hesitation, we believe that this law is a progressive step that will become the basis for the future prosperity of Uzbekistan through investment in education, training mature people and building a society of truly knowledgeable people.

Mavlon Bobokhonov, head of the department of work with youth,
spirituality and education of Samarkand State University named after Sharof Rashidov.