How is the nationwide "Second Chance" project changing the fate of convicts?
The "Second Chance" project, launched on the initiative of the head of our state, has begun to yield its first results. The English language proficiency level of the convicts involved in the project averages 89 percent. Furthermore, the fact that 80 percent of the trainees successfully completed the "Computer Literacy" course demonstrates the high practical effectiveness of the project.
How is the "Second Chance" nationwide project changing the lives of convicts?
Currently, over 300 convicts aged between 18 and 30 in 11 penal institutions across the republic are learning English and modern professions. The initial results achieved during a short period — five months of activity — alone demonstrate how effective the project is.
Classes within the framework of the project began on June 1, 2026, in Tashkent, Navoi, and Kashkadarya regions. Over the past period, 311 convicts selected through tests and oral interviews underwent intensive training in foreign language and computer literacy courses.
Final assessments were conducted for the "A1" level English language and "Computer Literacy" courses. The results show that 88.6 percent of the students successfully mastered basic knowledge of English, and 79.5 percent in computer literacy.
The highest results were recorded in Kashkadarya and Navoi regions: specifically, in Kashkadarya, mastery of the "A1" level in English reached 96.6 percent, and 98.3 percent in computer literacy. In Navoi, these indicators stood at 98.9 and 87.5 percent, respectively.
The knowledge level of the convicts is not evaluated by the specialists who taught them. To ensure objectivity and transparency, independent experts are involved in the process, and control tests are conducted monthly on a dedicated platform.
Among the penal institutions, there are those that achieved a 100 percent result. In particular, in Colony No. 5 in Kiziltepa and Colony No. 3 in Karshi, mastery in both courses reached 100 percent. These figures demonstrate how seriously the students are approaching their education and taking this project as a genuine opportunity to change their future.
During a dialogue with youth at the "Koksaroy" residence on February 24, 2026, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of rapid social adaptation for young people serving sentences and announced the launch of the "Second Chance" nationwide project. On March 27 of the same year, a relevant decree (No. PQ–117) was adopted regarding this.
The decree aims at two goals: to ensure that a released person is not left unemployed and without support, as well as to prevent reoffending. This project is based on the noble idea that a person's future should not be put to an end because of a single mistake. Because true justice is manifested not only in punishment, but in giving a person an opportunity to return to the right path.