Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree on November 15 to enhance the system of initial pre-conscription training for young citizens. As a result, one “school of courage” will be established at a school in each district and city of the country.
The primary objective of these schools is to instill patriotism, physical fitness, and spiritual growth in the younger generation. Students will receive advanced instruction in mathematics, history, physical education, foreign languages, physics, and initial pre-conscription training (IPT). Selection for the “schools of courage” will begin from the fifth grade.
These schools will feature an expanded curriculum, including robotics, medical training, legal literacy, and national sports. Practical training will be conducted biannually at military ranges and quarterly at military units. Higher military and paramilitary educational institutions will oversee the schools, providing educational and methodological support.
In other schools across the country, pre-conscription training will be taught for two hours weekly, with an additional hour for grades 10–11. Starting June 1, 2025, the position of deputy director for patriotic education will be discontinued, with its responsibilities transferred to the Ministry of Defense. In its place, a new position—head of IPT—will focus on military and patriotic training for schoolchildren.
This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to enhance patriotic education, as discussed in a recent presidential meeting. It is envisioned that the “schools of courage” will play a vital role in the national education system, fostering loyal and well-rounded citizens.
