Technology
2. Technology laws, policies, plans and regulations
2.1. Education technology legislative and policy framework
2.2. Technology infrastructures, technological capacity of schools and learning environments
2.3. Technology competencies of learners and teachers
3.1. Institutions in charge of technology in education and coordination mechanisms
1. Terminology
The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 560-II of December 11, 2003 “On Informatization” provides such definitions as informatization, information resource, information technology, Information system, etc. Informatization is defined as organizational social and economic as well as scientific and technical process of creating conditions for meeting the information needs of legal entities and individuals with the use of information resources, information technologies and information systems. An information resource is defined as information, data bank, database in electronic form as part of an information system, including audio, video, graphic and textual information posted or published in information systems with open access. Information technology is a set of methods, devices, approaches and processes used to collect, store, search, process and disseminate information. An information system is defined as an organized set of information resources, information technologies and means of communication that allows collecting, storing, searching, processing and using information.
The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 822-I of 20 August 1999 “On Telecommunications” provides among others such definitions as telecommunications and means of telecommunications. Telecommunications are defined as the transfer, receipt, and processing of signals, signs, texts, images, sounds or other types of information using wired, radio, optical or other electromagnetic systems. Means of telecommunications are defined as technical devices, equipment, facilities and systems that allow generating, transmitting, receiving, processing, switching electromagnetic or optical signals and managing them.
The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. LRU-637 of 23 September 2020 “On Education” introduces such terms as information and communication technologies, distance education, and distance learning technologies; however, definitions are not provided. Article 16 of the Law states that distance education is aimed at providing students with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities in accordance with curricula and study programmes at a distance using information and communication technologies and the Internet. There is no EdTech term. However, there are regulatory documents, which explore the idea of using modern educational technologies and ICT at schools. These include the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PP-289 of 21 June 2022 and the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PP-4851 of 5 October 2020.
The term "EdTech" is not used in education laws, policies, plans, or strategies.
2. Technology laws, policies, plans and regulations
2.1. Education technology legislative and policy framework
Constitution and laws: According to Article 41 of the Constitution, “everyone shall have the right to education. The state shall guarantee free secondary education. The school shall be under state supervision”. There is no specific statement on the use of educational technology in the Constitution.
According to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Education, everyone is guaranteed equal rights to education regardless of gender, race, nationality, language, religion, social origin, beliefs, personal, social status and shall be ensured through support of innovations in educational organizations and implementation of educational programmes using innovative technologies. In addition, the authorized state bodies (three ministries) in the field of education, within the limits of their powers should ensure the introduction into the educational process of modern forms of education, new pedagogical technologies, technical and information teaching aids. Modern pedagogical technologies, innovative forms and methods of teaching, information and communication technologies shall be used in the process of introducing curricula and study programmes. When introducing curricula and study programmes into the educational process, educational organizations may use teaching technologies based on a credit-unit system. Furthermore, experimental and innovative activities in the field of education are carried out with a view to modernizing education and aimed at developing new educational technologies and resources, their testing and introducing into the educational process. The procedure and conditions for the implementation of experimental and innovative activities are established by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Educational organizations in their experimental and innovative activities may use distance learning technologies. One of the obligations of teaching staff is to use information and communication technologies, advanced and innovative forms and methods of teaching and education and familiarize with the content of education, the methods of teaching and upbringing used, educational technologies, as well as learning progress of their children.
The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PR-3951 of 5 September 2018 outlines the measures for the introduction of new management principles in the system of public education, including the use of innovative forms of education, modern pedagogical and information technologies, professional guidance, effective methods of education in the learning and educational process; the publication of new educational materials developed in accordance with the updated curricula and programmes using advanced pedagogical and information and communication technologies, and consistent with international requirements in terms of content and quality.
The Decree (No PD-5538) of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Additional Measures to Improve the Management of the Public Education System of 5 September introduces innovative forms and methods of education in the learning and educational process.
The Presidential Decree No. PD-6260 on Additional Measures for Providing Comprehensive Support to Young People and Further Enhancing Their Social Activities was signed on 13 July 2021 to implement large-scale measures aimed at providing decent work and a source of income, training in modern professions and IT technologies, broad involvement of graduates of general secondary, professional and higher educational institutions in entrepreneurship, as well as meaningful organisation of leisure time of young people.
The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Approval of the Concept of Development of the Public Education System of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030 of 29 April 2019 № PD-5712 sets the following strategic objectives for enhancing digital capacity of schools: implementation of the IT-Nation programme aimed at revising the computer science curriculum in public education institutions with the study of best foreign practices in training qualified specialists in the field of information and communication technologies; radically improve the quality of education in schools by expanding the practice of creating specialised classes and schools with an emphasis on in-depth study of foreign languages, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology; introduction of a mechanism for evaluating the quality of vocational education and regular public monitoring based on the informational openness of educational institutions, and the creation of integrated certification and professional qualification centres in the regions; and ensuring the participation of the public and large commercial enterprises in the management of public education institutions and quality control of education.
Policies, plans and strategies: The Concept of Development of Public Education System of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030 № PD-5712 of 29 April 2019 identifies the following tasks: quality update of the content of the lifelong learning system; improvement of teaching methods, gradual introduction of the principles of individualisation of the educational process; introduction of modern information and communication technologies and innovative projects in the sphere of public education; advancing facilities and equipment of public education institutions and increasing the effectiveness of budget funding; and introduction of modern methods and directions of extracurricular work in youth upbringing and ensuring their employment.
Digital competency frameworks: No competency framework for teachers students have been found.
Changes occurred as a result of COVID-19: On 29 January 2020, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed the Decree No. PC-5537 on establishing the Republican Commission for the development of measures aimed to prevent the entry and spread of a new type of coronavirus in the Republic of Uzbekistan. As a result, technology became an important solution that helped to keep the education process going in the online and distance format. Before the COVID19 pandemic, education at schools was always provided offsite, technology was not widely used, and no online classes were offered. With the onset of the pandemic, schools were shut down in March 2020, during the final term of the academic year 2019-2020. Starting from March 2020, online and distance format became the only way to overcome the difficulties during total shutdown. All classes were broadcast through TV channels. The Government decided to ensure education continuity through an emergency remote/distance learning (DL) programme. UNICEF provided technical and financial support in designing distance learning (DL) during the COVID-19 pandemic and school closure. Uzbekistan Education Sector Analysis made by UNICEF showed that television was the key media channel with the largest audience among respondents aged from 14 to 30 years.
2.2. Technology infrastructures, technological capacity of schools and learning environments
2.2.1. Technology infrastructure and digital capacity of schools
Electricity: The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No PR-241 of 11 May 2022 on Additional Measures for the Development of the Public Education talks mainly about continuous provision of public education institutions with electricity, natural gas, drinking water, necessary sanitary and hygienic conditions and other communal services. Chapter 4 of the Decree No. D-331 by Cabinet of Ministries on Additional Measures for Improving Out-Of-School Education System says that at schools organized in separate educational blocks of the buildings of general education organizations, separate devices for accounting of electricity are installed and payments for electricity are made according to the contract concluded in the prescribed manner with the electricity supply organization. The rest of the utility expenses are reimbursed to general education organizations based on the area and size of the building occupied by the school in agreement with the financial authorities.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has implemented reforms in order to strengthen its energy industry. The Strategy for the Transition of the Republic of Uzbekistan to a Green Economy for the Period 2019-2030 was approved by Presidential Decree No. PD-4477 of 4 October 2019. The Strategy has many objectives within several priority areas, including the improvement of key power network configurations and their modernisation to increase power system stability around the country.
Uzbekistan has adopted the Concept Note for Ensuring Electricity Supply in Uzbekistan in 2020-2030, which aims to raise electricity production from 63.6 billion kWh to 120.8 billion kWh.
No additional information has been found regarding the provision of equitable access to electricity.
Computers and devices: At the beginning of 2022, the Ministry for Development of Information Technologies and Communications forwarded computers to IT schools newly established in Tashkent city, Kashkadarya, Jizzakh and Syrdarya regions. In total, 2,766 schools were provided with 46 thousand modern computers in 2020 and about 30% of schools have new computer classrooms.
Loans for the purchase of a computer are offered in electronics shops with monthly payments.
Internet connectivity: The Government aimed to connect all schools to fibre-optic, high-speed internet services by the end of 2021, and by the end of 2022, planed to have every settlement to be connected to the internet. UNICEF's support to the government's education sector reforms includes efforts to improve digital connectivity. Generation Unlimited contributes to the Giga initiative through Reimagine Education and by reaching out to young people.
2.2.2. Technology and learning environments
The Government of Uzbekistan first announced the closure of all educational institutions for three weeks starting from 18 March 2020 and then extended it until the end of the school year (25 May 2020). According to statistics from the Republican Education Centre (REC), a total of 4,492 video lessons were created and broadcast between 31 March and 25 May 2020, covering the curricula for all core subjects for grades 1 to 11 for the last term of the school year. These lessons were broadcast on four state channels. Four lessons were broadcast daily, each lasting 15 to 20 minutes (a total of one to one and a half hours of instruction). The broadcast schedule was announced well in advance during the week. In addition, video lessons were also available to students 24/7 through the Online Maktab Telegram channel (84,000 subscribers and 2.6 million views per day), as well as the Ministry of Public Education Telegram channel (80,000 subscribers and 250,000 views on average per day) during the lockdown. The Ministry also provided extra learning resources and platforms such as Talim.uz, Edu Market, Eduportal (online educational platform) that provides online educational materials for each grade and Kitob.uz platform/mobile app during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. (UNICEF Report).
2.3. Technology competencies of learners and teachers
2.3.1. Learners
The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Approval of the Concept of Development of the Public Education System of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030 of 29 April 2019 № PD-5712 sets the following strategic objectives in the field of students’ technological competencies development: establishing conditions for creative development, organising in-depth training of students in information technologies and the basics of computer programming, including through the integration of the One Million Programmers project into school curricula; introducing modern methods of teaching and assessing students' knowledge using digital tools and distance learning, as well as interdisciplinary modules; ensuring the adaptation of curricula to digital economy requirements, developing cooperation with educational and research institutions, government agencies and industry enterprises in this direction; creating conditions for introducing students to the activities of the residents of the Technological Park of Software Products and Information Technologies (IT-Park); introducing changes in the basic curricula of general education schools in order to increase the general level of students' use of digital technologies; advancing computer science teaching methods in general education schools by involving IT organisations in the educational processes; and introducing the One Million Programmers project at schools on a large scale.
The Decree № PR-312 on Measures on Effective Use of the Soft Loan of the Government of the Republic of Korea Provided for the Realisation of the Project on Informatisation of General Education Schools in the Republic of Uzbekistan signed by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on 27 March 2006 has become another important step towards the introduction of information technology Uzbek schools. Aiming at ensuring the consistent implementation of the 2030 UN Global Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan adopted a Decree “On measures to implement national goals and objectives of sustainable development for the period until 2030”. Along with that, Uzbekistan developed nine objectives aimed at ‘Ensuring gender equality and empowering all women and girls’. In total, 54 additional gender indicators, introduced on the website www.gender.stat.uz, entailed important changes. Within this Project, along with business incubators, it is advisable to take measures to stimulate women in the field of education and science, or engage them in natural and technical sciences by creating STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) laboratories. This, in turn, will help increase women’s employment and their competitiveness in the modern labor market.
2.3.2. Teachers
The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Approval of the Concept of Development of the Public Education System of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030 of 29 April 2019 № PD-5712 provides for the introduction of a system of annual lump-sum remuneration in the amount of 20 BCV ($27 in USD) (base calculation value) for the best 100 Computer science and information technology teachers of state schools, whose students have successfully completed training courses within the One Million Programmers project. Remuneration is paid from the Fund for the Development of Information and Communication Technologies and IT Park.
The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan № PD-6079 on Approval of the Digital Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy of 05 October 2020 defines the following tasks for teacher technological competencies development: to promote building of a system of independent quality assessment of continuing education and development of competition in the market of additional educational services; to ensure gradual integration of a course on Computer Science and Information Technology in specialized and other general education schools in accordance with the curricula elaborated within the One Million Programmers project; to introduce the system of lump-sum remuneration of teachers who have prepared winners of international Olympiads on Computer Science and Information Technology in the amount of a monthly salary at the expense of extra-budgetary funds of universities; to introduce the National System of Certification of Teachers in computer science and information technologies; to pay a monthly supplement to Computer Science and Information Technology teachers of specialised schools who have the appropriate certificate on the level of digital skills of 50 % of their basic salary; and to adapt the curricula of the Computer Science and Information Technology course to modern trends in information technology education within the framework of general secondary education curriculum development.
2.4. Cybersecurity and safety
2.4.1. Data privacy
Currently, information security is an essential sector of state policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan. State information policy regulates the reproduction and dissemination of information that satisfies the interests of the state and civil society and is aimed at ensuring a creative, constructive dialogue between them.
The Law on Principles and Guarantees of Freedom of Information defines measures to ensure information security at all three levels: the individual, society and the state. Therefore, this law is rightfully considered as a fundamental document for regulating processes of data receipt, use and storage, including through information technology, as well as information security issues. In accordance with Article 14 of this document, information security is based on the fundamentals of democratic civil society and mass information freedom.
There is the general Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. ZRU-764 of 15 April 2022, which regulates relations in the field of cybersecurity. One of its key principles is the priority of protecting the interests of the individual, society and the state in cyberspace.
2.4.2. Online abuse and cyberbullying
Measures have been taken to create a secure information system at school by protecting computers from external unauthorised influence (computer viruses, logical bombs, hacker attacks, etc.), establishing email control, ensuring constant monitoring of incoming and outgoing correspondence and using content filters for site selection.
There are no laws that regulate internet abuse and cyberbullying in Uzbekistan. However, certain regulatory legal acts cover this area partly. For example, the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. ZRU-444 of 8 September 2017 regulates relations in the field of protection of children from information harmful to their health.
3. Governance
3.1. Institutions in charge of technology in education and coordination mechanisms
The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan № PR-4851 on Measures for Further Improvement of the Education System in the Field of Information Technologies, Development and Integration of Scientific Research with the IT Industry of 6 October 2020 sets the procedure for coordinating and monitoring qualitative and timely implementation of the tasks and measures identified. Minister of Public Education, Director of the Agency for Development of Presidential, Creative and Specialised Schools under the Cabinet of Ministers ensure the improvement of the quality of teaching Computer Science and Information Technology in secondary general education institutions, effective organisation of specialised schools in the regions and preparation of young students for international Olympiads. The control over the implementation of this decision is entrusted to Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The Ministry of Public Education and the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialised Education together with the State Inspectorate for Supervision of Quality in Education are tasked with ensuring gradual introduction of information technology classes in general secondary, secondary special, vocational and higher education institutions as well as retraining of teachers by the National Research Institute named after Avloni, starting from the academic year 2021/2022.
There are other ministries involved in the process. The Ministry of Finance allocates funds to purchase the equipment for schools. The Ministry of Higher and Higher and Secondary Specialized Education is responsible to improve the professional skills of teachers of informatics and information technologies of general education schools, for introduction of the mechanism of cooperation of specialized schools with higher education institutions and organization of modern educational courses on teaching digital technologies. The Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade is responsible for providing internship opportunities for employees of specialized schools in advanced general education institutions of foreign countries.
3.2. Roles of schools
Measures to use mobile phones in educational institutions of the Republic of Uzbekistan are regulated by the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 139 of 21 May 2012. According to this document, when entering the educational institution, each student, employee or visitor is obliged to turn off the sound of the telephone (turn silent mode on). Students are allowed to use phones (make calls, send SMS, MMS, GPRS messages, use Bluetooth services, the Internet, etc.) in educational institutions only for the purpose of prompt communication with parents (legal guardians), close relatives, heads or employees of educational institutions and only in cases of justified and urgent need. In case of emergencies, the use of mobile phones in educational institutions is not restricted.
This country profile was commissioned by UNESCO IITE and developed by Davron Aripov.
