"Open Budget" scandal: School principal dismissed for forcing teachers to collect votes

According to Minister of Preschool and School Education Hilola Umarova, the principal of one of the schools in Kuva district attempted to deduct 700,000 UZS from teachers' salaries to secure votes in the "Open Budget" process.

"Unfortunately, there are still officials in the system who impose unreasonable demands on staff, instruct them to collect funds for various purposes, and, in short, continue to adhere to outdated ways of thinking.

"Recently, we terminated the employment contract of a school principal in Kuva district who demanded that teachers contribute 700,000 UZS each from their salaries for the 'Initiative Budget' voting process.

"This initiative was introduced to enhance transparency and increase citizen participation in the budgeting process. Let us not overshadow such positive reforms by forcing teachers and education workers to participate in mandatory voting or deducting money from their salaries.

"Once again, I want to emphasize that we will never tolerate cases where educators are involved in tasks outside their professional duties or are required to contribute funds for various purposes," the minister stated.