First-graders have been given "Presidential Gifts": what will be included in this year's set
First-graders in Uzbekistan will receive "Presidential Gifts": what will be included in this year's kit
Delivery of "Presidential Gifts" for first-graders starting school in the 2026/27 academic year has begun in the regions of Uzbekistan, according to a Daryo correspondent.
According to the department, the school supplies will be delivered to all regions of the country by August 15, and to all schools by August 25, based on the number of enrolled first-graders. The ceremonial presentation of the kits to the children will take place after the First Bell events.
The "Presidential Gift" includes 12 items of school supplies. The kit includes: a school backpack, 12 notebooks, a pen, two pencils, a set of colored pencils, colored paper, play dough, a sketchbook, two erasers, colored watercolors, glue, and a pencil case.
These kits will be distributed not only to first-graders in public schools, but also to students in private educational institutions, as well as schools under the jurisdiction of other ministries and departments. To ensure timely provision of school supplies, lists of first-graders were compiled using the adm.maktab.uz online platform.
The Ministry of Preschool and School Education reported that when compiling the current kit, parents' opinions regarding the quality and durability of school supplies distributed in previous years were taken into account. All products were tested for compliance with established standards and sanitary norms.
Furthermore, this year, in honor of the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence, first-graders will be given keychains featuring state symbols. According to ministry representative Erkin Murodov, this is intended to foster a sense of patriotism, respect for state symbols, and pride in their country in children.
The ministry also commented on the weight of school backpacks.
"Research has shown that the weight of a school backpack is not only related to the contents of the 'Presidential Gift.' Some parents buy their children larger bags, which they then add various other items, water bottles, and textbooks and workbooks not included in the schedule. This leads to increased backpack weight. Therefore, we ask parents to ensure that their children take only the school supplies necessary according to the daily schedule," said Kakhramon Almardonov, a responsible official at the ministry.
According to estimates, over 6.7 million schoolchildren will be studying in Uzbekistan in the 2026/27 academic year. More than 550,000 teachers will work in 10,225 general education schools. Over 795,000 children are expected to enroll in first grade. As of August 5, over 680,000 children have already been enrolled in schools, representing approximately 85 percent of the planned number.