Programme of measures on further development and improvement of culture and art adopted. 1
Renewable energy to draw 314,1bn soums. 1
Message from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 2
Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of republic of Uzbekistan.. 2
Deputies consider State budget execution. 2
The 1st of June is an International Day for Protection of Children.. 3
Uzbekistan: The Best of Endeavors for the Sake of Children. 3
OFFICIALLY
Programme of measures on further development and improvement of culture and art adopted
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a resolution “On measures on further development and improvement of culture and art sphere”.
Uzbek leader approved a programme of measures on further development and improvement in the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2017-2021.
The program envisages measures to improve legislation on organization and increase effectiveness of cultural and art institutions, strengthen their material and technical base.
Within the programme, theaters, museums, cultural and leisure facilities, as well as parks of culture and recreation will be renovated and reconstructed. They will also receive new equipment and musical instruments.
It is planned to involve young people in art through organizing their visits to theaters, museums, concerts. Also in the country will be held various shows and festivals.
The program also includes measures to widely promote the rich culture and art of Uzbekistan in the international arena, to increase the participation of representatives of Uzbekistan in international contests and festivals.
It is also planned to raise the prestige of the international music festival Shark Taronalari in Samarkand.
According to the document, a joint venture will be established in Uzbekistan to produce products for concert and entertainment and theatrical institutions (make-up and post-production products, shoes, special clothes, including ballet costumes, stage scenery and designs, curtains and stage costumes).
Uzbek leader ordered the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education and the Ministry of Finance to adopt measures to organize a special faculty for the preparation, retraining and upgrading of music teachers for institutions of higher and secondary special education from the 2018/2019 academic year in the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan.
The program will be financed due to resources of the investment programme, the state budget, non-budgetary fund for the development of culture and art under the Ministry of Culture, non-budgetary fund for the development of the material and technical base of educational and medical institutions under the Ministry of Finance, credits of commercial banks and other sources.
(Source: UzDaily.com)
ENERGETICS
Renewable energy to draw 314,1bn soums
An extensive work has been carried out in Uzbekistan in recent years, to improve the energy efficiency in sectors of the economy and the social sphere, as well as extending the use of renewable energy sources.
In particular, pursuant to the Decree of the President dated March 1, 2013 “On measures for further development of alternative sources of energy” and the presidential decree dated 5 May 2015 “On Program of measures to reduce energy consumption, implement energy saving technologies in industries and the social sector in 2015-2019”, following targets have been achieved:
– Republican Commission on energy efficiency and development of renewable energy sources was established in the structure of the Ministry of economy of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
– International institute of solar energy was established in Tashkent;
– a road map for development of solar energy in Uzbekistan was developed with the support of the Asian Development Bank;
– number of projects were initiated for construction of large solar photovoltaic power plants in Surkhandarya, Namangan and Navoi regions.
Meantime, today, there are a number of unresolved issues preventing the further accelerated development of alternative sources of energy.
With this in mind, the head of state adopted a new decree “On measures on further development of renewable energy, energy efficiency in sectors of the economy and social sphere for 2017-2021,” aimed at further reduction of energy intensity of gross domestic product, reducing the production costs and expanding the use of energy from renewable sources.
More than 314,1bn soums (currency rates of CB RU from 02.06.2017, 1$= 3846.33 soums) are set to be channelled from the State budget towards these purposes.
(Source: UzReport.uz)
International cooperation
Message from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz Kamilov,
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Excellency,
I am writing to express my appreciation for the support extended in the run-up to and during my visit to Uzbekistan on 10 and 11 May 2017. I was honoured to meet with you and to discuss matters of mutual concern. This was my first visit to your country, and I would like to thank you and your colleagues for the excellent work undertaken in preparing and organizing the trip.
I commend, once again, the Government of Uzbekistan for its current reforms to harmonise the national system with international human rights standards. During my visit, I noted with interest the early moves of the Government to establish structures and modalities for the implementation of the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Mechanisms, such as the National Human Rights Action Plan. I hope that the implementation of the Action Strategy for 2017-2021 aligned with human rights priorities will yield further positive results on the ground.
I am grateful for Uzbekistan’s positive engagement with my Office in Geneva, and I am looking forward to an extended cooperation with my Regional Office for Central Asia.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein,
High Commissioner for Human Rights
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of republic of Uzbekistan
Deputies consider State budget execution
The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a regular session on June 1. In the framework of parliamentary control, the deputies considered the report on the execution of the State budget and the budgets of state trust funds in 2016 and first quarter of 2017, which was presented by the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
According to the report of the International Monetary Fund “World Economic Outlook”, the world economy in 2016 grew on average by 3.1%, while the growth of foreign trade comprised 1.9%. This is associated with a 13% decline compared with the figure of 2015.
Against this background, as noted at the meeting, the state budget was executed in accordance with the approved parameters and with a surplus exceeding 132 billion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 02.06.2017, 1$= 3846.33 soums). GDP growth made up 7.8%, volume of industrial production and agriculture – 6.6%. In addition, the real aggregate income per capita grew 11%, the average monthly wage of employees of budget organisations, pensions, social allowances and scholarships – 15%.
During the consideration of the report on the execution of the State budget and budgets of state targeted funds for the first quarter of 2017, the deputies scrutinised the current state of this area. Given the unstable situation on the global markets and increased competition in attracting investment, priority must be given to the implicit implementation of the projects included in the Investment program for 2017.
During the meeting, the deputies identified specific tasks for the upcoming period to improve cooperation with relevant ministries and departments of the normative-legal base, raising the executive discipline of officials of state bodies, cooperation with relevant Kengashes of people’s deputies in the implementation of parliamentary control over timely and qualitative execution of the State budget and budgets of state targeted funds in the forthcoming period.
Following the meeting, the Legislative chamber adopted a resolution on approval of the report on the execution of the State budget for 2016 and budgets of state targeted funds in the first quarter of 2017.
The 1st of June is an International Day for Protection of Children
Uzbekistan: The Best of Endeavors for the Sake of Children
This week, the parks of the country are crowded with kids as never before, for several reasons. First of all, the school year is over and the summer holidays have begun. Another reason is the International Children’s Day, celebrated every year on June 1 around the globe.
There is hardly an organization that would ignore this date. For example, the international charity fund Soghlom Avlod Uchun, jointly with the Republican Public Children’s Fund Sen Yolghiz Emassan, the Ministry of Public Education and sponsoring organizations, have been running a specialized week under the motto ‘Love and Care for Each Child’ in the the best parks of the country. The campaigns are held for foster children of mercy homes, specialized boarding schools, as well as children from socially vulnerable families.
The public youth movement Kamolot and its children’s branch Kamalak have stepped up these days to arrange eventful leisure for young people. Many specific events have been organized along with the release of fiction books of the series ‘Kamolot Library’, traditional competitions and sports competitions. There are cultural and educational events under the slogans ‘You Are Pillar of the Country, Dear Child!’, ‘Love and Care for Every Child!’ It is worth to mention a photo contest ‘Shirin Bolajon’. The creative competition has collected thousands of photographs depicting children from the age of one to six years in the family circle, at playgrounds, parks, preschools, schools. The best works will be published on the International Children’s Day.
The ‘Shirin Bolajon’ contest is held for the second time, and the organizers promise to make it regular. If it succeeds, it will be interesting to collect all photos of the participants in ten years, or at least the winners of those years. The pictures will allow tracing the real state’s concern for children.
The fact that children in Uzbekistan are surrounded with love and care is indicated by the scale of ongoing creative initiatives of social infrastructure facilities in rural areas. They were empowered by a program of measures implemented within the framework of the Action Strategy for Five Priority Areas in Uzbekistan for 2017-2021. Perhaps, there is no area ignored, every effeort is aimed at raising the level and quality of life of the population. The environment for the creation of healthy and happy families has been created with special care. Happy families raise happy children. There are many initiatives that focus on the smallest citizens of the republic.
Let’s take culture and recreation parks, for instance. Despite the fact that the program, which was focused on the development of their network, was completed last year, and under which over 225 parks were repaired and reconstructed, the work on their creation has entered a new level. Six state-of-the-art parks of culture and recreation are currently being built and reconstructed in Tashkent alone. They are built using modern architectural solutions, new attractions. For example, a new park is being built in the Shaykhantahur district, Babur Park is moving to new premises, and the park in Navoi Street is being revamped.
Taking into account the needs of the younger generation in children’s playgrounds, new residential blocks are being built in urban and rural areas. Even the recently adopted program on the repair of multi-apartment housing stock and improvement of adjacent areas attaches special importance to the repair and construction of children’s playgrounds with modern attractions. They should appear next to each house.
A Program on Further Streamlining of the Preschool Education System for 2017-2021 is another important initiative. As a result, more than a million children will go to nursery schools. The ongoing changes and transformations are entailed by correct solutions of relevant problems, satisfaction of the needs of the younger generation. Unfortunately, far not all nursery schools, especially those in rural areas, are well-equipped and practice progressive methods of learning. Besides, the percentage of enrollment of children by pre-school educational institutions in remote areas is still low.
What are the ways to address pressing problems? In the next five years, it is planned to build 50 new nursery schools, revamp 1,167, and overhaul 983 nurseries. The institutions that will be built to updated design will have comfortable summer pavilions, playgrounds, and swimming pools. 2.2 trillion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 02.06.2017, 1$= 3846.33 soums) will be allocated for this purpose. Construction and repair works totaling 265.4 billion soums have been scheduled for this year alone.
According to preliminary calculations, the integrated measures should increase the coverage of children with preschool education by 1.5 times. By 2021, they will receive more than 1.1 million children.
The range of favorite books will expand. To expand children’s outlook, it is very important to cultivate the love for reading in them from an early age. Therefore, the organization of small libraries in pre-school educational institutions rangs among the priorities today.
In 2017-2018, libraries will be created in 2,420 nursery schools, consisting of 50 titles for children selected from among the best samples of Uzbek and world literature. They will undoubtedly contribute to shaping correct idea about the value of the book.
The Program on the Further Improvement of the Preschool Education System for 2017-2021 focuses on expansion of the network of nongovernmental nursery schools, and reduction of parental fees in rural areas. A practical step in this direction has already been made: as of February 2, 2017, the attendance fee for children of pre-school educational institutions has been cut by half in Karakalpakstan and Khorezm region by the resolution of the head of state.
Under the Program, more than 55,000 pedagogical workers will be assigned to gradually advance their qualification, thereby ensuring the training of comprehensively mature professionals who are dedicated to their profession.
The Ministry of Public Education runs monitoring and analytical activities to ensure a complete and high-quality implementation of the program, which is designed to bring the performance of pre-school educational institutions to a totally new level. Jointly with concerned organizations, experts study the main directions of work of nursery schools on the basis of the calendar plan. They assess the quality of teaching sessions and the educational process, the facilities for improving children’s health, their physical and intellectual growth, the level of provision with teaching aids, and the pedagogical skills of teachers.
In this context, the introduction of the most effective pedagogical technologies into preschool education, creation of all organizational and technical conditions for that builds up an effective foundation for growing the new generation capable of taking responsibility for the future of the Motherland. Approved by a Presidential Decree, the Program on the Further Improvement of the Preschool Education System for 2017-2021 sets large-scale tasks. It envisages taking measures to strengthen the logistical capacity of 2,200 nursery schools, construction of new schools in rural settlements, equipping them with modern tools, equipment, teaching aids and multimedia. The initiatives will help to educate the younger generation in decent conditions, reveal their aptitudes and talents.
6,100 short-term groups will be organized across the country in order to further improve the quality of preparation of children for school with effective use of alternative technologies of teaching. The list of urgent tasks in rural areas includes the opening of groups to prepare 5-6-year-old children for school, and conduct practical classes to stimulate their mental abilities and logical thinking. As their activity is established smoothly, more than 305,000 children will successfully pass this important stage annually. To date, 1,220 short-term groups of this kind have been established in the country, covering 81,000 preschool children.
When studying the experience of developed countries, it is important for us not to imitate their methods, but to comprehensively analyze, choose the most acceptable and suitable, and then supplement and enrich them. Pursuing solely this policy, our country will introduce the advanced programs of preschool education and upbringing. They will help the children attending short-term groups to learn to read and write, acquire the first mathematical skills.
Certain measures have also been taken to increase the role and responsibility of families in preparing their children for school. For example, parents whose 3-6 year-olds do not attend pre-school educational institutions for certain reasons, are provided with methodological aids. For the first time ever, methodical guides of seven titles have been created for them for a short time. They can be used through school libraries. The colorfully illustrated editions contain all the knowledge needed for the future first-grader. They will help parents to introduce their childred to the world of knowledge, develop perseverance, attention, and strengthen memory. Since 2017, such literature will be gradually supplied to 400,000 families in rural areas in Uzbek, Russian and Karakalpak languages.
In pursuance of the Action Strategy for Five Priority Areas for 2017-2021, measures have been taken to further improve school, college and academic lyceum education. New state educational standards were approved for secondary, secondary specialized and vocational education. Up to 2017, schools worked in accordance with 1999 standards. Those were the first standards in the history of national education, which envisaged the requirements and the amount of knowledge that students should acquire at each stage of their study. This year, the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers has approved new standards, which were developed taking into account previous experience, and which have several fundamental differences.
Previous standards were applicable for schools, and separately for colleges and lyceums. This is how they were conceived and approved. That entailed inconsistencies in learning the subjects, which did not have the best effect on the quality of education. The new standards for twelve-year compulsory education, comprising nine years of school and three years at the college or lyceum, are considered as a single whole. This allows avoiding all possible shortcomings.
Previous standards and curricula set priority for the academic education, that is, learning of the material. Everything was arranged in a way that, upon the completion of the study, a child was able to say: “I know …”, while now the educational process is focused on the development of practical application of the stuff learned.
The system of education has to ensure that, according to the results of the topic covered, the student might say: “I can do …” It is important that a child did not just know, but knew how to apply the received knowledge in practice. Thus, the preparation of children for professional work will begin already at school.
The system of secondary specialized vocational education has been radically revised. A corresponding Presidential Resolution was adopted according to the results of the critical analysis of performance of academic lyceums, aiming to improve their activities.
144 academic lyceums functioned throughout the country for in-depth preparation of students for university admission exams. However, as the analysis of their activities showed in terms of the perspective development of the regions, taking into account the territorial, demographic, economic and other social factors, the performance of the lyceums on vocational guidance of graduates in choosing higher education institutions is unsatisfactory. Therefore, it was decided to abolish four of them, and restructure 54 lyceums into colleges.
Another innovation implies that academic lyceum graduates will receive a certificate confirming the confernment of the profession, along with the diploma. According to experts, this should significantly help their entry into an independent life.
The initiative of the Ministry of Labor and Higher and Secondary Special Education on the conduct of the ‘Startup Week’, supported by commercial banks and the youth public movement Kamolot, has become innovative. Graduates will have a chance to present their projects to representatives of banks, local authorities and potential investors, as well as get some assistance and support in starting a business. To participate in the ‘Startup Weeks, graduates need to submit an application with a brief description of the project, its purpose, the social and economic problem (task) being addressed, the target audience, the cost (own funds, bank loans, investor funds), the planned number of jobs, and other details. The authors of the best ideas will get a support in their implementation.
Healthcare has been another public policy priority since the first days of independence, with a special focus on the protection of motherhood and childhood. According to the latest data published by the World Health Organization, 99% of children under one year of age in Uzbekistan are vaccinated (against the required 95%). Uzbekistan shared the first line with Belarus and Turkmenistan. Thus, our country ranks among the CIS leaders in vaccination. Meanwhile, the implementation of programs on provision of pregnant women from rural areas with free polyvitamins, enrichment of salt and flour with micronutrients that lack in the environment, has been underway in Uzbekistan to ensure the morbidity prevention since early childhood.
The abovementioned facts point out to the level of availability of qualified medical care, which includes all phases of care, ranging from disease prevention to the provision of hospital aid. At the same time, unprecedented measures are being taken in the framework of the adopted documents to make this assistance even better and accessible.
Pediatricians, or doctors who specialize in the treatment of children, have appeared again in the primary link of health care – family clinics and rural health units. This should allow to significantly improving the quality of medical care. Additional provision of the ambulance service with specialized vehicles and equipment it needs will undoubtedly have a positive impact on this work.
The Republican Specialized Research and Practical Medical Center for Pediatrics, the Clinic of the Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute, the Republican Specialized Research and Practical Medical Center of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Republican Perinatal Center keep working on the introduction of advanced diagnostic and treatment methods. The introduction of new technologies in the regions has been a priority of similar relevance. It is facilitated by the appropriate equipping of regional medical centers.
The entire complex of measures creates an excellent microclimate in the country for a happy and healthy childhood.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
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