In several schools in Namangan Region, teachers and students are being coerced into subscribing to the "Mutolaa" platform for e-books and audiobooks. According to Kun.uz, an unofficial daily quota of at least 200 subscriptions has been set for each school, with tasks delegated through class teachers, leading to pressure on educational staff and pupils.

Independent sources indicate that officials responsible for spiritual and educational work acted on directives from higher authorities, instructing students to download the app and send screenshots, despite the absence of any official written orders. A source recounted: "The spirituality officials visited homes and gave assignments, ordering us to connect and take a screenshot. We connected from our phones, changing the age to a younger one, and sent the screenshots."

The "Mutolaa" platform is a project by the Youth Affairs Agency aimed at promoting reading among young people. In response to Kun.uz's inquiry, the agency's press service stated that such practices are unacceptable and, if confirmed, a service inspection will be conducted with possible revisions to employment contracts for responsible staff, emphasizing that there is no need for coercion due to sufficient subscribers.

The Ministry of Preschool and School Education also confirmed that it is working to clarify the circumstances. Forced subscription remains a persistent issue for employees of budget organizations over many years, although mass campaigns have declined recently, highlighting ongoing systemic flaws in governance.

The agency promised to provide additional updates on the investigation results. This incident raises further concerns about oversight and communication between schools and state bodies, fueling public discontent and criticism of the education system's management practices.

Source: kun.uz