Sector Assistance Program Evaluation on Education in Uzbekistan

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
 
The objective of this sector assistance program evaluation (SAPE) is to assess the 
performance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) assistance in the education sector of 
Uzbekistan for the period 1996–2009. It also identifies factors affecting the performance, and 
draws lessons and recommendations to feed into the preparation of a country assistance 
program evaluation and future education sector operations. The SAPE undertakes strategic and 
institutional as well as project and program-level performance evaluation of the sector 
assistance.
The Government of Uzbekistan gives high priority to human development. After gaining 
independence in 1991, Uzbekistan continues to provide quality education to its citizens. It 
developed a National Program for Personnel Training (NPPT) in 1997, which has been 
implemented in three stages and is coming into full effect from 2010. Uzbekistan also adopted 
the National Program for Basic Education Development in 2004. In 2007, a Welfare 
Improvement Strategy Paper was developed to reduce the poverty incidence in Uzbekistan.
Development challenges. 
Uzbekistan, the most populous in the Central Asian region, 
is a doubly landlocked country. It is endowed with precious natural resources such as copper, 
gold, natural gas, oil, and uranium. In recent years, the Uzbekistan economy has been growing 
at the rate of 8.5%–9.5% per annum. It has weathered the global financial and economic crisis 
well, certainly better than many economies at its level of development in the region. In this 
sense, the key challenge is to stay the course, complete the transition, and keep on removing 
the "binding constraints" that are precluding better economic performance and private sector 
development. It needs to absorb newer technologies rapidly to boost the productivity of 
economic operations. Backed with good governance, its investment climate needs to be 
transparent, stable, and predictable for the global investors. Despite the high rate of economic 
growth, poverty incidence has risen. 
The main challenge of human development in Uzbekistan lies in the development of 
skilled and knowledgeable personnel who are able to facilitate the transition to an internationally 
competitive economy. The availability of quality human resources is critical in effecting this 
transformation. The government, with the assistance of ADB and other development partners, is 
seeking to accelerate this transformation. Uzbekistan spends about 8%–9% of its gross 
domestic product on education, which is much higher than in countries at a comparable level of 
development. Ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of such high investment in 
education is a challenge for the country.