SAMA commented on the sale of the Pedagogical University dormitories in Tashkent

SAMA Commented on the Sale of the Pedagogical University Dormitories in Tashkent

The active dormitory of Tashkent State Pedagogical University on Mukimi Street has been put up for sale. However, the new owner will be able to receive the building only after dormitories are built in New Tashkent and the students are relocated. This was announced by the head of the State Assets Management Agency (SAMA) Sokhibjon Murodov.

At a press conference on October 8, journalists asked the head of SAMA to clarify why active social facilities, including student dormitories, are being included in the privatization program.

Answering the question, Murodov confirmed that the dormitory of Tashkent State Pedagogical University (TSPU) on Mukimi Street is up for sale and drew attention to the territorial fragmentation of the university's academic buildings.

According to him, the university buildings are located in different parts of the capital — in approximately seven to nine locations. Because of this, some students have to spend a lot of time commuting.

"Imagine a student who leaves the dormitory in the morning and travels to the branch in Kuyluk. It takes him an hour or an hour and a half. First and foremost, he is thinking about how not to be late for classes, rather than about studying. Now imagine the trip back, when he has to transfer from one mode of public transport to another," Murodov said.

He added that student travel also creates an additional burden on public transport, especially with the start of the academic year.

To solve these problems, TSPU is planned to be accommodated on a single territory in New Tashkent.

"Based on international experience, 50 hectares of land have been allocated on the territory of New Tashkent. To date, the academic building is practically completed, and the construction of dormitories has begun. That is, everything will be located in one place," he reported.

Murodov assured that the privatization of the existing building will not lead to a reduction in the number of student dormitories. According to him, the terms of the sale provide for preserving the intended use of the facility.

At the same time, the active dormitory will continue to accommodate students until their relocation.

"When will it be vacated? Only after a new dormitory is built and the students currently living here are relocated there. Only after that will the building be handed over to the owner who bought it from the state. Even while the bidding is underway, it will continue to be used as a dormitory," the head of the agency stressed.

Murodov did not specify the exact timeline for completing the construction of the new dormitories and relocating the students. Nor did he specify the starting price of the object put up for sale.

As a reminder, the complex of dormitories No. 5, 7, 8, and 9 of the Nizami National Pedagogical University at 96 Mukimi Street has been put up for auction with a starting price of 272.3 billion soums. The plot area is 1 hectare, and the building area is about 16 thousand sq. m. According to the terms of the sale, the facility must be vacated by December 31, 2027, but its transfer to the buyer depends on the readiness of the university's new campus.

The new campus in New Tashkent is being built on a 40-hectare territory and is designed to educate 20,000 students and accommodate 5,000 people. Earlier, three other complexes of university buildings in Tashkent were also put up for sale. The combined starting price of the four properties, including the dormitories, is about 1.63 trillion soums.

The problem of the shortage of places in student dormitories persists across Uzbekistan.

According to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, at the beginning of 2026, 58% of state university students in need of housing were provided with dormitories. In 2017, this indicator stood at 28%.

There are 167 thousand places in 408 dormitories of state universities. In August, the department also announced the introduction of more than 8.3 thousand new places in 17 universities. Priority in check-in is given to students in need of social protection.

For students who lacked places, assistance in finding rental housing and partial compensation of expenses are provided. The amount of compensation is up to one basic calculating quantity (BCQ) in Tashkent and up to half a BCQ in other regions.

According to the Tashkent City Kengash, the Nizami Pedagogical University has seven dormitories for 3,200 places. Five of them are located on Mukimi Street and are designed for 1,600 students, another one for 400 places is located in the Aktepa area, and a dormitory for 1,200 places operates on the basis of a public-private partnership.

As of September 2025, about 270 thousand students in Uzbekistan needed housing, while dormitories of state universities were designed for 155.8 thousand places. Thus, the deficit was estimated at 114.2 thousand places.

To reduce the shortage of places, the authorities are expanding the construction of dormitories, including on the basis of public-private partnerships. As of July 2026, projects for 38.5 thousand places were being implemented, of which facilities for 30.7 thousand places were at the stage of active construction.