Sector Assistance Program Evaluation on Education in Uzbekistan

ESDP (policy loan). 
Given the government’s high ownership of the ongoing education 
reforms, and its continued leadership and commitment, it is noted that the reforms under ESDP 
are likely sustainable. However, their precise form and impact may undergo changes as the 
government gathers experience and becomes more confident to undertake further reforms. 
Improving the macroeconomic situation also augurs well for these reforms to stay the course in 
Uzbekistan. The ESDP is rated likely sustainable. 
93. 
Summing up, all completed projects are rated as likely sustainable, whereas two projects 
under implementation (ICTBEP and RBEP) are most likely sustainable. Combined, the loan 
portfolio is rated as likely sustainable.
5. Impact 
Assessment 
94. 
ADB’s contributions to long-term changes in Uzbekistan’s economic development 
through its lending assistance in the education sector are likely to be substantial. The 
government is using its commitment to educational development as a pivotal step in 
transforming Uzbekistan into a globally competitive market economy. The very first step of 
changing the script from Cyrillic to Latin, and then revising the curriculum and textbooks, implied 

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a major shift in the country’s development direction, in which ADB assistance played an 
important role. Over the years, the government has maintained a high level of investments, 
providing new buildings, furniture and equipment, and raising the salaries of teachers and other 
education functionaries. Consequently, the morale of students and staff in the ministries and 
offices of education is high. ESDP (policy loan) helped improve the quality of education for the 
poor and vulnerable students, although the impact of SSEP on education sector policies and 
institutional development has been limited. Introducing ICT in the education system has made 
schools more dynamic. Added to this is the fact that macroeconomic conditions in the economy 
have improved tremendously in the last 5 years. Combined with Uzbekistan’s prudent public 
expenditure pattern, the current conditions have made policymakers and administrators 
confident that they can: (i) successfully improve socioeconomic conditions of its population, (ii) 
further build on gender equity, and (iii) rapidly reduce poverty. However, the disadvantages in 
the rural areas continue to be high, and the government is keen to address these. ADB’s RBEP 
is supporting the government to fully address these concerns. 
95. 
The education sector’s institutional capacity to manage educational development, 
policymaking and allocation of resources, and linking it all to the labor and employment market, 
still needs to improve further. This is particularly true for the system’s M&E capability. Without 
making further progress in these areas, sustainable development of education can hardly be 
ensured. A large number of educated workers are now going abroad in search of gainful 
employment. With the help of the private sector, Uzbekistan needs to make better use of its 
human resources in the domestic economy to be able to sustain its economic growth. A 
technically capable population is a prime resource in such a process. Thus, in summary, while 
the gains of ADB’s education assistance are substantial, there are areas for further 
improvements that need to be pursued relentlessly.