Management companies are sought to be involved in the maintenance of schools and kindergartens in Uzbekistan

Management companies intend to involve in servicing schools and kindergartens in Uzbekistan

In Uzbekistan, a new technical maintenance system for schools and kindergartens with the participation of the private sector is being prepared. Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services Sherzod Khidoyatov announced this on October 13 during the "Government Hour" in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

MP Dilnoza Azizova from the Milliy Tiklanish party drew attention to problems with the quality of construction and repair of social facilities, including schools, kindergartens, and roads.

She asked whether the ministry is studying international experience in attracting the private sector more broadly to such work.

In response, Sherzod Khidoyatov acknowledged that there are problems with the maintenance of educational institution buildings.

"Today, the issue of operating schools and kindergartens in the republic is very acute. When this problem was raised by the president, we started relevant work together with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education (reorganized into the Ministry of Education and Science — ed.)," the minister stated.

According to him, the first step will be the passportization of all schools and kindergartens in the country. Design organizations are currently studying the technical condition of the buildings, including roofs, heating systems, and boiler equipment, as well as the types of fuel used — coal, gas, and others.

Based on the collected data, it is planned to determine the necessary repair work. In parallel, standards are being developed for the further operation of both existing and newly built educational institutions.

"We are jointly developing standards and have submitted proposals so that management service companies that serve apartment buildings in the vicinity of schools and kindergartens could also provide services to these institutions," Khidoyatov said.

According to him, this issue is also being worked out with the Ministry of Economy and Finance. In the future, it is planned to involve the private sector in the technical maintenance of educational institutions.

The minister noted that currently, relevant work is performed by the staff of the schools and kindergartens themselves, but such a system does not fully meet modern requirements.

In particular, more complex engineering equipment is being installed in new educational institutions, including modern heat pumps, the operation of which requires qualified specialists.

"We are developing a new system under which not only management service companies, but also specialized maintenance organizations will appear in the country. They will undergo certification so that this work is performed specifically by specialists," explained the head of the Ministry of Construction.

According to Khidoyatov, the new system is planned to be introduced jointly with relevant agencies.

"We expect that this system will start working from next year," the minister stated.

At the same time, he did not specify how many schools and kindergartens are planned to be covered at the first stage, how the maintenance organizations will be selected, and from what funds their services are expected to be paid.

"Gazeta" was also informed about plans to outsource the facility maintenance of state schools.

"However, we propose outsourcing the facility maintenance part in schools: the service company itself must handle repairs and all maintenance, like a management company," he stated.

In addition to technical maintenance, the capital's khokimiyat proposes outsourcing the organization of school meals. According to Umurzakov, this approach will make it possible to involve specialized companies in performing these tasks.