ADDRESS
Address of the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Khongirotboy Sharipov, to the employees of the sector, professors and teachers, and students and youth regarding the fight against corruption.
In recent years, extensive work has been carried out in our country against corruption, bribery, nepotism, and other social evils. These reforms are being implemented with the aim of creating decent conditions for our people. The international community has acknowledged Uzbekistan's policy of openness and the efforts in the fight against corruption.
Important laws have been adopted in our country to combat corruption, including the law on 'Combating Corruption.' In the President's 'Uzbekistan – 2030' strategy, the fight against corruption is also defined as a specific goal. For example, in goal 89, tasks have been set to eliminate corrupting factors and to form an uncompromising attitude toward corruption in society.
Today, the digitization of the economy has become the most effective tool in the fight against corruption. Digital technologies serve to reduce corruption, increase tax revenues, and provide government services in a transparent manner.
One of the effective tools in the fight against corruption in the education system is the digitization of the education system. For this purpose, within the framework of the 'Digital University' project, the 'Higher Education Management Information System' (HEMIS) has been developed and implemented in practice.
This information system automates the administrative, academic, scientific, and financial activities of higher education institutions, organizes and monitors the educational process, manages distance learning services, and ensures information exchange with the Ministry’s information system.
Currently, through HEMIS, the transparency of all processes in higher education institutions is ensured, and all data is automatically recorded and monitored. This helps prevent negative practices such as bribery or nepotism. The information exchange between higher education institutions and the ministry is also carried out through this system, ensuring the accuracy and transparency of the educational process.
The implementation of the system serves to effectively fight corruption by improving the quality of education, ensuring accountability, and promoting transparency.
The 'Higher Education Management Information System' (HEMIS) mobile application for 'Managing Higher Education Processes' has been improved. Currently, more than 600,000 students are using the mobile application. The 'pedagog.edu.uz' platform, designed for the certification of teaching staff and the awarding of qualification categories to them, has been launched for secondary special and vocational education institutions.
Unfortunately, despite the measures being taken to eliminate the conditions that lead to corruption in the field, such incidents are still being observed.
In particular, during the past period of this year, several teachers and responsible individuals were caught accepting bribes, promising to help citizens with admissions or transferring to another school. Criminal cases have been initiated against all of them. Punishment for the crime is inevitable!
The harm of corruption in the education sector is immense. It lowers the level of education and leads to the emergence of unqualified and inexperienced personnel. Additionally, it undermines the trust of young people in government. For this reason, it is essential that we all fight corruption together.
Dear teachers and students!
The fight against corruption must become our primary responsibility. Corruption hinders the development of the state, especially in the field of education. If we all feel equally responsible for this, in the future, we will raise competent and knowledgeable professionals who will contribute significantly to the country's progress.
The future of our nation depends on your honest and responsible actions!
Respectfully,
K. Sharipov, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation