Life in Tashkent

Education in Tashkent

Expats with families looking to relocate to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, will of course want more information about the education system. Like many urban areas, the quality and resources of the schools in Tashkent varies considerably between institutions. Many English speaking expatriates send their children to Tashkent International School, a not for profit, community owned and run school in the city that offers international style schooling and the International Baccalaureate. Established in 1994, it has grown alongside the expatriate community, and now has over four hundred students in total. The British School of Tashkent, founded in 2010 and teaching the English curriculum, is also very highly regarded.

Tashkent also has a number of prestigious private and public universities and colleges suited to both local residents and expatriates living in Tashkent. The most prestigious university in the city is the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, which was established in 1943 and is the largest educational institute of its kind in the country. Other notable academic institutions that may be of interest to expatriates include the Westminster International University in Tashkent and the Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent.

Culture and Leisure in Tashkent

A diverse, cosmopolitan city, Tashkent has a vibrant cultural scene that is welcoming and accessible to both local residents and those relocating to the city. It has a number of interesting museums, including the Amir Timur Museum and Navoi Literary Museum, as well as the famous Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre.

The Chorsu Bazaar, the city’s famous marketplace, is the cultural and social hub of the city, and is where you will find traditional Uzbek food, drink and gifts. The city also features many famous mosques and countless examples of Soviet architecture, though much of the ancient city was destroyed during the period of Soviet occupation.

Tashkent is an important location in the history and development of Islam, and was named the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World by Moscow News in 2004. It also has the honor of being the resting site of Samarkand Kufic Quran, the earliest known written copy of the Muslim holy book.

Safety and Security in Tashkent

Tashkent is an extremely safe and secure city. Many expatriates and foreigners are impressed by its extremely low crime rates, due primarily to the heavy police presence in the center of the city. However, the expanding population has meant that over the last few years the crime rate has increased, particularly for street and petty crimes like pickpocketing. Expatriates need to be alert when living in Tashkent, especially at night and on public transport where the majority of these incidents occur.