"The idea that everyone should have a higher education is wrong," says the minister.

Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Kongratbay Sharipov stated that the idea that higher education is essential for everyone is misguided. This statement was made on August 14 in Tashkent at an international conference, as reported by Gazeta.

According to Sharipov, over the past four years, the number of applicants who failed to pass the minimum score of 56.7 on entrance exams to state universities has decreased from 46% to 34%.

The minister emphasized: "The idea that all high school graduates must have a higher education is incorrect. The labor market demand for specialists with a higher education is approximately 30%. This situation is observed not only in Uzbekistan but worldwide. The remaining 70% of young people can obtain a secondary vocational education."

Kongratbay Sharipov also noted a positive trend: "A recent analysis of results over the past four years showed that the proportion of applicants who scored above 56.7 points reached 74%. The number of young people with low scores is decreasing year after year, which is a positive trend. This suggests an improvement in the quality of school education and changes in the education system."

In 2025, the percentage of those who failed to achieve the passing score was 41.29%, and in 2024, it was 46.9%.

According to the minister, one of the key tasks is training personnel who meet labor market requirements in order to prevent future youth unemployment.

"This year, 36,000 grant places [at universities] have been allocated. In addition, almost 200,000 students will study on a contractual basis. These figures are based on labor market needs presented by the Ministry of Economy [and Finance]. We have received specific indicators for areas of study and the number of admissions," Sharipov explained.

The minister also announced that universities are opening new programs based on current labor market needs. In 2026, more than 323,000 people graduated from public universities. In July, Kongratbay Sharipov informed parliament that more than 390,000 graduates are expected to enter the labor market in 2027.

In 2018, the State Commission for Admission to Educational Institutions set the minimum passing score for admission to universities on a state grant at 68 points (36% of the maximum 189 points), and for fee-paying students at 56.7 points (30%).

In 2024, it was announced that the minimum passing score for university entrance exams would increase from 56.7 to 75.6 points, and to 94.5 points for the fields of healthcare, law, business, and management. However, these changes have not yet entered into force.

Applicants who do not pass the entrance exams have the opportunity to study under a supercontract in one of the bachelor's degree programs chosen upon admission.