Education in Uzbekistan

Middle ages (9th - 16th century)

In historical Uzbekistan and general Central Asia, written records attest to the existence of institutions devoted to educational and scientific pursuits in the form of madrasas since at least the 9th century AD.^[1] Under the reign of the Samanids, madrasas were found in cities such as Samarkand, Termez, Fergana and Khorezm, continuing to develop during the 10th to 12th century all around Central Asia as these cities boomed and became local centers of education and science during what is considered a cultural renaissance in the region.^[1]

Following the Mongol conquest of Central Asia, the education system in place endured a crisis affecting its activities which only stopped under the reign of the Timurids a century later, under which a new revival for the madrasa system came to be, centered on the newly built "Ulugh Beg Madrasas" (in Samarkand and Bukhara) which became important regional centers of learning for both religious and secular scholars.^[1][2] The education system went on a new decline in the late middle ages in the region, before and around the time of the formation of three khanates in Uzbekistan in the 16th century (Khanate of Bukhara, Khanate of Kokand and the Khanate of Khiva).^[1] This latter period's education is characterized by the strong presence and influence of scholasticism and Muslim conservatism.^[1]

Pre-school

By the end of 2024, Uzbekistan had 38,058 functioning pre-school education institutions, consisting of both public and family-based (non-state) organizations.^[3] Among them, 28,729 were family-based kindergartens, illustrating the rapid expansion of private early-childhood education across the country.^[4]

Secondary Education

As of the 2024/2025 academic year, Uzbekistan operates 10,943 general education schools, including 455 non-state schools.^[5] The total number of pupils enrolled in general secondary education reached approximately 6.78 million students at the beginning of 2024/2025.^[6]

Upper or vocational education

Vocational education is gaining popularity in Uzbekistan as the country undergoes rapid renewal and economic development. The Vocational Education and Training Day was held on 19 September 2025 to raise public awareness and strengthen the prestige of vocational education in Uzbekistan and to support the dual education system.

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has declared 2026 the Year of Training Young People in Modern Professions and has defined priority areas for vocational education.^[7]

Higher education

Entrance exams for public universities, commonly referred to as DTM, are administered by the State Test Center. These exams hold significant weight as they establish the cut-off points from the applicants' pool for the same program. Consequently, they serve as a sole criterion for awarding scholarships. Uzbekistan has experienced rapid growth in its higher education sector over the past several years. As of the 2024/2025 academic year, the country has 222 higher education institutions, an increase of 95 institutions (or 74.8%) compared to the 2020/2021 academic year.^[8]

Upper or vocational education is provided through a network of schools:

• Professional Technical School. Graduates receive a Junior Specialist Diploma equal to a Certificate of Complete Secondary Education.
• Technical College. Graduates receive a Junior Specialist Diploma equal to a Certificate of Complete Secondary Education.
• Lyceum or various training courses offered by higher education institutions or industry. Graduates receive a Junior Specialist Diploma or Diploma of Academic Lyceum equal to a Certificate of Complete Secondary Education.

In 2017, education reforms in Uzbekistan changed from 12-year program to 11 years after a previous reform disappointed and troubled parents and children. Eleven years of primary and secondary education are obligatory, starting at age seven. The rate of attendance in those grades is high, although the figure is significantly lower in rural areas than in urban centers. Preschool registration has decreased significantly since 1991.^[9]

USAID

USAID's Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Early Grade Math Assessment (EGMA) are supporting Uzbekistan's Ministry of Public Education by providing more precise data on student performance and evaluating proficiency in key skills. For the first time, Uzbekistan will gain standardized data on student learning outcomes through these assessments, helping to identify gaps and shape future initiatives. The EGRA and EGMA will involve a sample of over 11,000 students from grades 2 and 4 across the country, focusing on their reading and math abilities.^[10]

Statistics

Falling public standards

The official literacy rate is 99 percent. However, in the post-Soviet era educational standards have fallen. Funding and training have not been sufficient to effectively educate the expanding younger cohorts of the population. Between 1992 and 2004, government spending on education dropped from 12 percent to 6.3 percent of gross domestic product.^[9]

In 2006 education’s share of the budget increased to 8.1 percent. Lack of budgetary support has been more noticeable at the primary and secondary levels, as the government has continued to subsidize university students.^[9]

Between 1992 and 2001, university attendance dropped from 19 percent of the college-age population to 6.4 percent. The three largest of Uzbekistan’s 63 institutions of higher learning are in Nukus, Samarkand, and Tashkent, with all three being state funded.