Who we are and what we do

Why it matters

Uzbekistan’s students have consistently placed below international benchmarks. In the OECD’s 2022 PISA assessment, Uzbekistan ranked in the last quartile among 81 countries across every subject tested.

In PIRLS 2021 — the country’s first participation — average reading scores ranked 49th of 57 countries.

In TIMSS 2023, no students in Uzbekistan reached the advanced proficiency level in mathematics or science.

These gaps are widest in rural and remote schools, where it is hardest to attract and retain qualified subject teachers, and where an outdated, memorization-focused teaching model limits students’ ability to think critically, learn independently, and lead in their own communities.

Teach For Uzbekistan exists to help close that gap — by recruiting and developing passionate, capable young leaders as classroom teachers, and by generating the evidence needed to drive lasting improvement in Uzbekistan’s education system.

History of TFU

Teach For Uzbekistan was founded by a group of like-minded people united by the belief that quality education is the foundation of a country’s sustainable development and every child’s wellbeing. We understood that building a strong, thriving society meant investing in human capital — knowledge, skills, values, and self-confidence.

The shortage of qualified teachers in rural schools was especially acute, particularly in STEM subjects. This shortage became one of the key drivers behind the program’s launch. We bring young professionals from diverse fields into schools — not only to teach, but to serve as positive role models for the next generation, helping children dream boldly, see possibility, believe in themselves, and become active members of their communities.