Government proposes 30 percent tuition discount for children of teachers

A new draft government resolution published for public discussion outlines a plan to provide a 30 percent discount on tuition fees for children of teaching professionals enrolled in state higher education institutions. If approved, the measure is set to take effect from the 2026/27 academic year, supporting both newly admitted and currently enrolled students whose parents work in the education sector.

Photo: KUN.UZ

The initiative aims to safeguard the rights and interests of citizens while maintaining strict oversight of eligibility. Verification of a student's status as the child of a pedagogue will be handled electronically. State universities will submit queries through an integrated platform of the "Electronic Government" system to confirm the parent's current professional status. In instances where incorrect information is provided, the tuition fees will be recalculated according to the established legal procedures.

Application process and financial scope

Eligible students will be required to apply independently via the "Information System for Accounting Services Provided to Students on a Contract Basis" (kontrakt.edu.uz). Applications are addressed to the rector of the respective university for each academic year. The 30 percent reduction applies to the total annual contract amount. For instance, if the annual tuition is UZS 15,000,000, a discount of UZS 4,500,000 would be applied, bringing the final payable amount down to UZS 10,500,000.

The discount is applicable once per academic year. However, the draft specifies that this benefit will not extend to master’s degrees, part-time, evening, or distance learning programs. Additionally, joint degree programs and "super-contract" (elevated tuition for those below the admission cutoff) categories are excluded from the scheme.

Funding and long-term implementation

Funding for the 2026 fiscal year will be covered by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation through its existing budget allocations as a first-level budget administrator. Starting from 2027, the costs associated with these tuition subsidies are expected to be formally integrated into the state budget parameters.

Continuation of the benefit is strictly tied to the parent's employment status. Should a student’s father or mother leave the teaching profession or lose their pedagogical status, the tuition discount will be terminated starting from the following academic year.

The draft resolution was developed after analyzing the educational support systems of leading nations, including Austria, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Canada, and France. This proposal follows other recent incentives for educators in Uzbekistan, such as mortgage subsidies for highly qualified teachers and a 50 percent reduction in certification fees introduced by a government decision in April. The public comment period for this proposal will remain open until May 29.