Discounts on travel tickets for educators in Uzbekistan
A new initiative has been proposed to reward the hard work of teachers and mentors in our country and create additional opportunities for their recreation. Outstanding and dedicated educators will now be able to purchase air and rail tickets at discounted rates for domestic travel. The draft government resolution is currently open for public discussion.
Who is eligible and when does it start?
According to the draft document, this incentive system is planned to be implemented starting from the 2026/2027 academic year. Accordingly, teachers and mentors working in the following educational institutions will be entitled to use this opportunity once a year:
Schools and Kindergartens: Staff of general education schools and preschool institutions ranked in the national top100;
Technical Colleges: Educators of professional educational institutions ranked in the national top20;
Universities: Professors and teachers of higher education institutions ranked in the national top10.
Terms of the benefit and ticket classes
Under this system, educators will receive a 15 percent discount on the tariff portion of tickets for economy class, reserved seat (platskart), or coupe wagons and flights available for general sale. However, there is one exception: this discount does not apply to high-speed trains (e.g., Afrosiyob). Additionally, the travel must be direct, without transfers, for a round trip.
How does the system work?
To ensure transparency, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation will annually provide lists of top-ranked institutions to Uzbekistan Railways and Uzbekistan Airways.
Educators wishing to travel will receive a certificate from their institution confirming their employment and position, which will be used to issue discounted tickets. This initiative will undoubtedly encourage teachers to explore our country's historical cities.
Do you think these benefits will foster healthy competition among schools and universities to achieve higher rankings?
