Teachers' and Mentors' Day

1 October is Teachers' and Mentors' Day in Uzbekistan, a public holiday and day off by law — a sign of the great respect the state pays to the teaching profession.

Uzbek lands are home to an ancient tradition of learning: al-Khwarizmi, al-Biruni and Ibn Sina grew up here, and Amir Timur's grandson Ulugh Beg opened a madrasa in Samarkand in 1420 where he taught himself. Hundreds of new schools and universities have opened since independence.

How it is marked

Pupils and students give their teachers flowers and letters of thanks, the best teachers receive state awards and honorary titles, and schools hold festive events.