ТASHKENT, December 25. /Dunyo IA/.  Uzbekistan is positioning education as a strategic instrument for promoting peace, tolerance, and critical thinking, according to an article by Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Kongratbay Sharipov, published on the CIS Internet Portal under the title “Ideas of Peace and Education: The Experience of Uzbekistan and CIS Countries”, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

In the 21st century, alongside traditional security threats, ideological, informationa and value-based challenges are emerging as major risks, the minister notes. Radicalization, growing intolerance and manipulation of knowledge have made questions of peace and stability the responsibility not only of political authorities but, crucially, of educational and upbringing systems.

Sharipov emphasizes that education today serves as a core tool for shaping worldviews, fostering a culture of peaceful coexistence and encouraging respect for diverse opinions. This vision, he argues, is being consistently implemented in the educational policies of Uzbekistan and several CIS countries.

The minister also highlights that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has repeatedly stressed the vital role of education in ensuring sustainable development and peace. The president prioritizes enlightenment over repressive measures, advocating the cultivation of critical thinking and a culture of dialogue among students and citizens alike.

International educational cooperation is a central focus. Uzbekistan hosts 15 branches of leading Russian universities, while over 53,000 Uzbek citizens are studying in Russia. Hundreds of joint educational and scientific programs are currently being implemented, strengthening collaboration and shared knowledge across borders.

In conclusion, Sharipov argues that the experience of Uzbekistan and CIS countries demonstrates that education can and must function as an effective instrument of peacemaking - systematic, daily and realized through learning, dialogue, joint research and personal connections.