Erkinjon Turdimov: “I Have Not Dismissed Five University Rectors”

Erkinjon Turdimov has commented on reports about the possible dismissal of several university heads in Uzbekistan. He denied claims that five rectors had been dismissed, stating that no university rector had been removed from office so far.

The First Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and Minister of Education and Science made the remarks in an interview with Samarkand-based journalist Karimberdi Turamurod. According to Turdimov, four rectors, rather than five, received stern warnings at a meeting held on November 6.

“First of all, I have not dismissed a single rector, let alone five. At the meeting, I issued stern warnings to four rectors, not five. A special working group has been established at the ministry. This large and authoritative group will deal with the matter. The decision on which rectors will remain in their positions and which will not will be based on the working group's impartial findings,” the minister said.

This means that no final decision on the dismissal of the rectors has been made so far. The special working group established under the ministry will examine the situation and prepare its findings. Decisions on the future of the university heads will be made based on the results of this review.

Following the meeting, reports circulated on social media claiming that several university heads had been dismissed, including Ilkhomjon Tukhtasinov, rector of the Uzbekistan State World Languages University, and Bakhodir Kholikov, rector of the Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages.

Test results raise questions about the quality of higher education

During the interview, the minister also addressed problems related to the quality of education at higher education institutions.

According to Turdimov, the rector of one institute that had received positive recognition presented 10 students as the institution's best-performing students. However, none of them managed to achieve even a grade of three in a standard test.

The minister cited this incident as an example of problems with the quality of education at universities. However, he did not identify the institution in question.

“I Cannot Make Revolutionary Changes on a Global Scale”

Another part of the interview focused on corruption in the education system, existing shortcomings and plans to address them.

Responding to a journalist's question about measures to tackle problems in the sector, Turdimov said he was well aware of the shortcomings and acknowledged that addressing them would not be easy. At the same time, he stressed his intention to establish order within the system.

“I am well aware of the shortcomings you mentioned. The struggle will certainly not be easy. I cannot make revolutionary changes on a global scale in the education system, but I will establish order within it,” Turdimov said.

The minister also addressed errors in school textbooks. He said he was aware of the problem but noted that developing textbook content was not the ministry's direct responsibility. Proposals on the matter have been submitted to the Education Centre and the Institute of Scientific Research.

Author: Hasanboy OCHUN