During a video conference chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, it was highlighted that only 1% of Uzbek students studying abroad have been admitted to universities ranked in the “Top 100.” Although tuition fees between universities in the “Top 10” and those in the “Top 200” differ by only 15–20%.

“Our young people are extremely talented,” said President Mirziyoyev. “If we provide structured guidance, support them in choosing the right universities, and offer targeted preparation, we can multiply our success many times.”

The Head of State announced that he had signed a major decree to launch the national program “Presidentʼs Gifted Children” and establish the “Harvard Scholars School.”

The school will be established as an international academy named after Al-Biruni. This year, 60 outstanding 8th-grade graduates will be selected to enroll, where they will receive specialized training aimed at gaining admission to the top 10 universities.

In addition, 208 advisors from presidential and specialized schools will be assigned to general secondary schools nationwide.

As part of the national program, these advisors will annually select 3,000 of the most promising students and prepare them for admission to top U.S. institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Cornell.

This year, 200 million USD has been secured in funding from the Islamic Development Bank to construct new schools. This investment will be used to construct 58 new schools, providing educational opportunities for 72,000 additional students.

Regional governors were also instructed to partner with international financial institutions, attract investors from countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and South Korea to support school construction. Each region is expected to secure at least 10 million USD in investment and create favorable conditions for local entrepreneurs to participate in school development projects.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) were emphasized as one of the most effective ways to increase school capacity.

Accordingly, the time frame for announcing PPP tenders related to schools and kindergartens will be shortened from 45 to 30 days.

Officials have been directed to initiate no fewer than 100 PPP-based school construction projects across the country by the end of the year.