Islamic Development Bank Signs Financing Agreement with Uzbekistan Government for Educational Project
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) signed a significant education financing agreement with the government of Uzbekistan today, supported by a large grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The aim of the project is to enhance the quality, inclusivity, and efficiency of the education system in pre-schools and schools in the country. The signing ceremony was attended by the President of IsDB, Dr. Mohamed Al Jasser, the Minister of Pre-School and School Education in Uzbekistan, Dr. Khilola Amrova, and Laura Frigenti, the CEO of GPE, during the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) conference in Riyadh.
This undertaking marks the largest investment by IsDB in the education sector in Uzbekistan to date. The total cost of the project is $220.25 million, with $160.25 million funded by IsDB, a $40 million grant from GPE, and a $20 million contribution from the Uzbekistan government. The Smart Education program aligns perfectly with Uzbekistan’s national education strategies, aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of the education system. It will contribute to achieving the fourth Sustainable Development Goal and is in line with IsDB’s 2023-2025 strategy focusing on comprehensive human capital development.
The five-year Smart Education project will prioritize building schools, completing implementation agreements with UNICEF and UNESCO, improving learning environments, and enhancing sustainable and efficient education systems. It includes the construction of 58 comprehensive schools and 2,431 fully equipped classrooms with laboratories, furniture, and digital infrastructure in 11 regions across the country and the capital city of Tashkent.
In addition to infrastructure, the project supports comprehensive reforms in the education system, including the development of competency-based curricula, updating teaching and learning materials, enhancing teacher training systems, improving student and school evaluation mechanisms, with a significant emphasis on inclusivity. The project is expected to benefit over 72,930 students, including girls and children with disabilities, and will support the training of 36,115 teachers and staff.
The Smart Education project directly contributes to achieving IsDB’s strategic goals in comprehensive human capital development and expanding access to quality education in all member countries. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality, inclusivity, and efficiency of the education system in Uzbekistan, ensuring that all children have access to a high-quality education for a better future.
