The opening ceremony of the National Forum titled “Accelerating English Teacher Education Reform in Uzbekistan” was held in Tashkent. The forum was jointly organized by the British Council, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Nizami National Pedagogical University of Uzbekistan.

This prestigious forum is aimed at improving the system of pre-service English language teacher education in line with international standards, enhancing the quality of teacher training, and supporting ongoing reforms in the sector.

The opening ceremony was attended by Michael Holgate, Director of the British Council in Uzbekistan; Hilola Umarova, Deputy Minister of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Rector of Nizami National Pedagogical University of Uzbekistan; representatives of the Ministry; and leaders of a number of higher education institutions across the country.

Rector of Uzbekistan State World Languages University, Ilkhomjon Tukhtasinov, also participated in the event and delivered remarks at the opening ceremony. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of further improving the quality of English language teacher preparation, advancing pedagogical education in line with modern requirements, and strengthening cooperation among higher education institutions.

The forum’s key objectives include strengthening the network of educational programs for future English language teachers in Uzbekistan, announcing new initiatives to support teacher education, presenting the new PRESETT curriculum developed for pedagogical universities, and discussing its modern features, including reflective practice, inclusive education, the use of artificial intelligence technologies, and the alignment of learning outcomes with assessment systems.

During the two-day forum, participants will discuss mechanisms for implementing the new national curriculum, review international best practices, and explore ways to further improve the teacher education system in Uzbekistan.