Jizzakh teacher: “I was cooking 'hashar oshi', not picking cotton”

Earlier it was reported that Gulbahor Samadova, a primary school teacher at secondary school No. 22 in Jizzakh, learned in a cotton field that she had been awarded the state award — the “Shukhrat” medal — under the Presidential Decree “On rewarding a group of employees who have shown a special example in the education system on the occasion of the Day of Teachers and Mentors,” adopted on September 11. Following this, the teacher herself contacted QALAMPIR.UZ to clarify the situation.

According to Samadova, on Sunday, September 14, she voluntarily visited workers in the cotton field to bring them food and did not pick “a single gram” of cotton. She explained that she had already heard the news of her award on September 11, but the date and place of the ceremony were mentioned again while she happened to be in the cotton field — which is what the video referred to.

“I don’t have the strength to pick cotton, and since I am also active in cultural activities in the region, I often visited the pickers and encouraged them, saying ‘hormang.’ I have not picked a single gram of cotton. I have been working as a teacher for 35 years. Last year, I was named the ‘Most Enthusiastic Teacher of the Year’ in the region. Three of my students were accepted into presidential schools. A teacher cannot achieve such results if they spend time in the fields,” Samadova said.

For reference, Gulbahor Samadova has received multiple awards and honors over her career. She was recognized in the “Ustoz Namangan Uz” competition held by the Republican Public Education Department, awarded certificates for successful participation in the Republican scientific and practical competition “Founder of Science and Technology-2024,” organized in cooperation with the Turon Academy of Technologies and Euro Study Edu scientific centers, and honored with the commemorative badge “Founder of Science and Technology” established at the CIS level in accordance with order No. 5 of the Science and Education Center dated October 10, 2024.

On May 15, 2025, on the occasion of Family Day, she was also awarded the “Ibratli Oila” breast badge.