Viewing results 1 - 6 of 3
The Times of Central Asia previously reported that оn September 23, a teacher at a school in Tashkent’s Chilonzor district was filmed slapping a student when the child asked for the Russian language class to be taught in Russian. The Children’s Ombudsman of Uzbekistan, Surayyo Rahmonova, has begun an investigation into the incident. The spokesperson for Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, said that she was worried about the content of the video published online, and asked Uzbekistan to make a legal assessment of this incident. In response, Alisher Qodirov, the leader of Uzbekistan’s Milli Tiklanish (National Revival) party and deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament, urged Russia not to interfere in Uzbekistan's domestic affairs, commenting that “it would be better for [Russia] to deal with their own affairs [which are] full of problems than to deal with our internal issues." Russian Senator Andrei Klimov reponded to Qodirov’s statement, saying that “inter-ethnic relations are very delicate” between Uzbeks and Russians. He called the teacher’s actions “an offense, maybe more” and expressed bewilderment at Qodirov’s remarks. The teacher has since committed other offenses. On September 24, she went to her daughter’s school in another district of Tashkent, where she argued with the school administration and used physical force against the deputy director. When officers from the National Guard and the Interior Administration intervened to restore order, the teacher resisted their demands. She was later sentenced to seven days of administrative detention and fined.
On September 23 a teacher at a school in Tashkent's Chilonzor district slapped a student when the child asked for the Russian language class to be taught in Russian. The Children’s Ombudsman of Uzbekistan, Surayyo Rahmonova, has begun an investigation into the incident -- but not before news of the assault reached Russia. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that she was concerned about the content of a video of the slap that was posted on social media. “We have requested official clarification from the Uzbek side,” Zakharova commented. “The Uzbek side is urgently asked to give the media material a legal assessment and, if justified, to take action against the perpetrator of cruel treatment of the child. We are keeping this issue under the closest attention.” The leader of Uzbekistan’s Milli Tiklanish (National Revival) party and deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament, Alisher Qodirov commented on Telegram that “it would be better for [Russia] to deal with their own affairs [which are] full of problems than to deal with our internal issues. The violation of rights of an Uzbek child at a school in Uzbekistan will be investigated in accordance with Uzbek laws.” A vocal critic of Russian influence, earlier this year Qodirov proposed a ban on the provision of public services to persons who don’t speak the Uzbek, and the promotion of Soviet ideology and symbols in Uzbekistan.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided an additional $6.1 million in funding under an ongoing Development Goals Grant Agreement (DOAG) with the Department of Early Childhood Education. The total volume of investments in DOAG nw exceeds $47 million, the US Embassy in Tashkent has reported. The embassy added that the new funding strengthens programs that help develop basic skills in elementary school students, and gives students in grades 8-11 the entrepreneurial and economic skills they need to get jobs and participate in the economy of the future. “Investing in education is an investment in a brighter future for everyone. By providing quality education, we empower individuals with the skills and knowledge they need and pave the way for a more prosperous, equitable, and stable society,” explains David Hoffman, USAID Mission Director in Uzbekistan. “Every dollar spent on education is a step toward building a better tomorrow for all,” he added. The five-year DOAG contract was signed in 2019. USAID’s investments in Uzbekistan’s education sector aim to improve reading and math skills in primary grades, English fluency, information and communication technology development, and employability skills. Also, in March, USAID announced the investment of $17.7 million in a five-year project to support business in Uzbekistan. This investment will increase competitiveness in the fields of information and communication technologies (ICT), tourism, textiles, and green economy. Another USAID initiative is to support clean energy goals in Uzbekistan. As part of the initiative, the “Strategy for the Development of Renewable and Hydrogen Energy” of Uzbekistan plans to increase the production of renewable energy (solar, wind, and hydropower) by 25% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
