“You don’t have to be a wrestler.” An interview with school principal Umida Tursunova, who argued with the khokim of Surxondaryo

"No need to be a fighter." Interview with school principal Umida Tursunova, who argued with the khokim of Surxondaryo

On July 26, 2023, an altercation took place in the Sariosiyo district of the Surxondaryo region between the regional khokim Ulugbek Kosimov and Umida Tursunova, the principal of School No. 28 in the same district. Following this, the principal was detained for 15 days. Hilola Umarova, who was the Minister of Preschool and School Education at the time, stated that she had taken the situation under her control and announced that the school principal was immediately released from administrative detention. After returning to her job at the school, Umida Tursunova was beaten almost to death by a fellow villager.

These conflicts are still mentioned whenever the education system is discussed. Many were interested in the current fate of the teacher who stood up to the regional khokim. A Gazeta correspondent visited School No. 28 in Sariosiyo and spoke with its principal, Umida Tursunova.

Umida Tursunova was born in 1982 in the Dustlik neighborhood of Sariosiyo district. She studied for 11 years at School No. 28, which she now heads. After graduating from higher education, she began teaching Uzbek language and literature at this school in 2008.

Gazeta presents Umida Tursunova's story in her own words.

I thought that after graduating and getting married, I could just see how life goes. But after getting involved in some problems, I thought I should become a principal, that I would bring order. When I went to the ministry in 2018, I said, "Give me a chance, let me try to manage." At first, they appointed me as the deputy principal for academic affairs. Two and a half months later, my order as principal was issued.

Umida Tursunova.

When I started my work as principal, they instructed me regarding hiring new teachers: "You will assign classes based on the specialty written in their diploma." I think that, without realizing it, they taught me to work thoroughly and cleanly. If they had left me alone, I might have also assigned classes that did not match the diplomas.

From the moment I became principal, the supporters of Ahmad Boboyev, the head of the district School and Preschool Education Department — our teachers — started opposing me. Otherwise, they had 28–30 hours of classes. Whether I couldn't be the kind of principal our department head wanted, or because I took over the position of people he liked, I faced such opposition. Then they dismissed me.

I appealed to the civil court. They reviewed it within a month and reinstated me. Since the principal was reinstated, the head of the regional department was supposed to come and place me back, but he refused. The head of the regional department filed an appeal to the court again, and I went to court again. They upheld the decision again.

When I came to the school, our "rayono" head had appointed one of his employees as principal. While I was the one reinstated, with an order issued by the regional department, he kept working in my place and receiving the salary. The teachers were also confused — whom should they obey? That person wouldn't give me the key to my office and had taken the stamp. Even now, when I remember these injustices, I burn with anger.

Actually, I should have met with Ulugbek Kosimov earlier. When he arrived as khokim, I was busy going from court to court. My lawyer told me that he was holding a mobile reception at School No. 12 in Sariosiyo and said, "Go and explain your situation." I didn't pay much attention to it then. If I had met him then, maybe these events wouldn't have happened.

On July 26, 2023, a meeting led by the regional khokim regarding preparations for the new school year was held at School No. 12 in Sariosiyo. I also participated in it. The officials standing there gave Ulugbek Kosimov incorrect information about me.

At that time, I was only demanding my rights. I argued with Ulugbek Kosimov, in the sense of "Did you also believe their words?" Then the thought came to me that it would be better to die than to suffer such humiliation; feeling humiliated, I said, "You'd better shoot me." I said I was fed up.

My late grandfather also worked at this school. He used to tell me that I would become a mother tongue teacher. He also used to say, "The laws work, there is a state." When this idea sinks into a person's mind, it gives them inner encouragement. Eventually, the consequences of this reached Ulugbek Kosimov.

Then they took me to the Internal Affairs Department, and from there to the court. They had also brought my colleagues who were sitting at the meeting to testify. In court, a man named Ikrom Jumayev, who works at the khokimiyat, was presenting accusations against me. Even when I said, "What does this person have to do with me, I was talking to the khokim," it was ignored. I felt at that time that the judge was also forced. I was sentenced to 15 days of detention.

They had filmed the video of me arguing with the khokim themselves. As if to say, "This is how people like this end up." But this video, on the contrary, brought me more benefit. The people defended me then. I am very grateful to the bloggers, Kobul Dusov, Rasul Kusherbayev, and Hilola Umarova. I was inside, and I found out about these things later.

Then they released me from detention, I had to start working again, and I went to school. But even after all this, I never thought they would go as far as beating me. On the day of class distribution, the history teacher was assigned 21 hours of classes. History teachers also teach upbringing classes, but they are not paid for it. Out of those 21 hours, 16 hours were history. For this reason, that teacher's husband was called to the school.

I was beaten so severely that I don't even remember what happened there. Blood was spilled, and he also punched other teachers. Then two young men came from the street and saved me.

Umida Tursunova and Ulugbek Kosimov.

What I am about to say might not please everyone, but I would not advise any woman to fight like this, to be a fighter, and to lose her health. I am in favor of them working in places comfortable for them, among people who give way.

Even now, when I recall those memories, I get upset. I should have given up on this job earlier. After all, I couldn't do anything all by myself.

Here I am, still working as the principal of School No. 28. We have about 1,200 students and 76 teachers. We have created all the conditions to the best of our ability. Our clubs are operating. This year, seven of our students applied to state higher education institutions, and the same number of students applied to private higher education institutions. They were admitted too. We also have students who entered the medical college.

On the occasion of October 1st, I congratulate all teachers and mentors. I also express my gratitude to those who supported me, thank you very much. May the teachers of our Uzbekistan continue to work and live as the happiest teachers in the world. May they always be healthy!