Tashkent Faces Kindergarten Shortage as Authorities Propose Sales

Uzbekistan has earmarked kindergartens for possible sale, including some still in use, even as Tashkent faces a shortage of 65,000 preschool places. Officials say the properties must continue to be used as kindergartens, but have not said how much their new owners could charge parents. Gazeta.uz reported plans to sell around ten kindergartens following an October 8 press conference held by Sohibjon Murodov, director of the State Assets Management Agency. The published privatization list includes state kindergarten No. 58 in Tashkent’s Yakkasaroy district, which has a capacity of 120 children. Murodov said the building is very old and claimed that it does not even have a foundation. The children are to be transferred to a new state kindergarten with 720 places, currently under construction in the same neighborhood. The vacated 0.56-hectare plot is expected to be sold on the condition that a private kindergarten is established there. Murodov said the Yakkasaroy property had not yet been put up for auction and that inclusion on the privatization list does not necessarily mean a property will be sold. If residents' objections are found to be justified, individual properties could be removed from the program in coordination with the Presidential Administration. In Kashkadarya Region, another kindergarten on the list belongs to a state-owned oil and gas company but is already leased to a private operator. Selling it would therefore transfer ownership of a facility that is already privately run. The proposed sales have also exposed differences between national and city authorities. Tashkent Mayor Shavkat Umurzakov opposes transferring land belonging to state schools and kindergartens to private education projects, including through public-private partnerships. He argues that such sites should be reserved for state institutions. The State Assets Management Agency, by contrast, allows kindergarten properties to be sold provided they retain their educational purpose. The potential cost to parents is a particular concern. According to an estimate based on crowdsourced data cited by Anhor.uz, the average monthly fee for a private kindergarten in Tashkent was around 3.8 million soums (approximately $315) in May 2026. Fees at state kindergartens are regulated by the government and increased by approximately 6.8% in September 2026. Even after the increase, a standard nine-hour place in Tashkent costs around 290,500 soums ($24) a month, less than one-tenth of the estimated private-sector average. Tashkent authorities plan to create 40,000 additional places by 2030 and increase preschool enrollment to 92%. In October, plans for 28 new institutions with a combined capacity of 16,000 places were presented to the president. Even so, the proposed 40,000 new places would be 25,000 fewer than the city's estimated current shortage, although demand may change by 2030. According to city administration figures reported by Gazeta.uz, preschool enrollment rates in 11 of the capital's 12 districts are projected to be lower in 2026 than in 2023. The largest declines are projected in Sergeli, Yakkasaroy, and Bektemir districts. Authorities have not explained the reasons. Across Uzbekistan, however, preschool enrollment rose from 27% in 2017 to approximately 75% in 2025, according...

Expanding Preschool Education Boosts Women’s Employment in Uzbekistan

Expanding access to preschool education has emerged as a key factor in increasing women’s employment in Uzbekistan, according to a recent study by World Bank economists Chiyu Niu and Avralt-Od Purevjav, along with Central European University researcher Dilnovaz Abdurazzokova. Covering the years 2018 to 2022, the study examines how public investment in early childhood education has influenced female labor force participation. In regions with the most substantial growth in preschool availability, women’s employment rose by 12%, equivalent to a 3.3 percentage point increase. From Reform to Results In 2017, less than 30% of Uzbek children aged 3 to 7 were enrolled in preschool, one of the lowest rates globally. In response, the government launched sweeping reforms: within four years, the number of kindergartens tripled, significantly expanding access in both urban and rural areas. The researchers analyzed data from the "Listening to the Citizens of Uzbekistan" survey, which samples approximately 1,500 households monthly, alongside official labor market and education statistics. Not Just Childcare, But an Investment In many Uzbek households, childcare is traditionally provided by extended family members such as grandmothers, aunts, and older siblings. However, the study found that access to formal preschool services offers a more sustainable and consistent impact on women’s employment. One striking finding was a cultural shift in how kindergartens are perceived: once seen primarily as childcare, they are now increasingly viewed as investments in a child's development. Despite preschool costs ranging from 25% to 200% of a woman’s monthly income, many families are willing to pay, recognizing the long-term value. “The expansion of kindergartens motivates families to work, it’s not just about time, but about purpose,” the researchers noted. Many women return to work not only because they have more time, but also to help cover the cost of preschool. A Multigenerational Effect The study also observed a broader labor market ripple effect: once children are enrolled in preschool, not only mothers but also grandmothers and aunts often seek employment. This illustrates a critical dynamic, when childcare responsibilities are shared more evenly, the overall economic participation of women increases. Yet, access to preschool alone cannot close all gender gaps. In 2021, Uzbekistan's gender gap in labor force participation stood at 28 percentage points. Youth unemployment among women was 15.5%, compared to 10% for men, and 42% of young women (ages 15-24) were not in employment, education, or training (NEET), compared to just 8.8% of young men. Women also earned 34% less than men on average, well above the global average gender wage gap of 20%. These figures highlight that while childcare reform is foundational, it must be accompanied by broader efforts to create meaningful employment opportunities for women. A Model for Conservative Societies Uzbekistan’s experience offers valuable lessons for other nations with strong family traditions. It demonstrates that investing in childcare infrastructure can lead to measurable improvements in economic participation, even in traditionally conservative societies. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, this topic was also discussed at the IV International Legal Forum “Tashkent...