- Date
- April 2002
This overview was prepared for USAID/CAR to assist the preparation of an education initiative in Central Asia, focusing initially on Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Conducted over a one-month period (April 2002), it draws primarily on the available statistical data, various descriptive and analytical reports, and interviews with major education stakeholders in Central Asia conducted by national Soros foundations. In addition, a series of focus-group discussions were conducted in the region with parents, teachers, and students in order to understand their perceptions. Various quotations from these discussions are presented in boxes within the text.
It was a considerable challenge to find accurate and reliable data. The sources are frequently contradictory, and certain data are considered ‘state secrets’, especially in Uzbekistan. In order to provide a more reliable account of education trends in Central Asia, a combination of different data sources was used, including statistical data available from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank (WB), UNICEF, and UNESCO.
The Education Support Program and various consultants prepared this overview. Soros foundations in the three countries provided extensive comments and information. The OSI-New York, which has extensive operations in the region, also provided useful insights and help. The overview introduces a general analysis of primary and general secondary education in the three countries, combining comparative and country-specific data. It provides a brief regional context, describes apparent regional trends in education and offers a discussion of the education issues in the three countries. This provides a basis for an identification of strategic priorities facing education transformation in the region. A detailed list of currently active programs and possible program areas is then presented. The overview provides information on international donor involvement and national NGO activities in the region.