Uzbek teachers sent to cotton fields.

	Cotton harvesting in Uzbekistan in 2004; photo by Thomas Grabka

12.09.12 16:52

Uzbek teachers sent to cotton fields

In many colleges, lyceums and universities in Uzbekistan classes have been reduced because most teachers have been sent to pick cotton.

At the Tashkent law college students have two classes a day instead of usual four because all male teachers and some female teachers have been sent to cotton fields in Tashkent and Jizak Regions.

Some female teachers were not sent to pick cotton because of their old age and they say colleges and universities in Tashkent will go back to their usual work pattern no earlier than mid-October.

“No-one cares how later, at what pace, children will be catching up with the missed [programme] and how they will sit exams. The government seems not to need qualified specialists but qualified agricultural workers,” she said.

A similar situation developed in most secondary vocational and higher educational establishments in Tashkent.

“We have one or two classes a day that are taught by female teachers or pensioners. Others are in cotton fields,” said Dina, a second-year student from an IT college in Tashkent’s Mirabad district.

Students to cotton fields!

Tashkent-based

It is illegal to distract students from studies and send them to cotton fields.”
an official from the Tashkent Railway Institute

students were also called up to pick cotton this year. Even before the start of the academic year college, lyceum and university administrations required third-year students aged over 18 to submit a written undertaking to go to pick cotton “voluntarily”.

These written undertakings included a provision that students would not complain about picking cotton to the authorities. Those who violate provisions of these undertakings would face expulsion.

“I am afraid those who refuse to go to cotton fields may easily be expelled for breach of discipline or poor academic performance. Student cotton picking is a campaign backed by the state at the highest level so no complaint would help,” the father of a student from the Tashkent Chemical
Technology Institute said.

Not to be cotton slave?

An anonymous official from the Tashkent Railway Institute said that students could refuse to pick cotton if they only were a little bolder in defending their rights and did not fear pressure from the university administration.

“It is illegal to distract students from studies and send them to cotton fields. Firstly, they should not sign written undertakings agreeing to go to cotton fields; secondly, they should not fear to complain to the Education Ministry and prosecutor’s office,” he said.

He said the prosecutor’s office could not ignore the complaint, especially if it was signed by many students.

He also thinks that they should not be worried about teachers’ and university administration’s revenge either.

“On the contrary, such students will be respected for ability and bravery to fight for their rights and even fear them,” he said.

Not only fee-paying students can demand rights but also students studying on government grants because they have grounds to require quality education instead of forced labour, the teacher believes.

“Their main argument should be that they were more talented and capable based on entrance exams and the government spends huge sums for their education. Budget funds should not be wasted,” he said.

Teachers’ Day without classes

Not only the cotton-picking campaign but also preparations for Teachers’ Day, marked in Uzbekistan on 1 October, extended holidays in some Tashkent universities.

Students of the Tashkent Economic University’s lyceum rehearse their congratulations to their teachers at Tashkent’s Pahtakor stadium every day instead of studying.

“We have so far had one class – Lesson of Independence on the first day of the academic year. We are freed from classes until the end of September,” first-year student Kamola said.

Uznews.net

 

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