WB Backs Uzbekistan's Program for Student Loan Access

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $250 million loan to support Uzbekistan’s EduImkon program, aimed at expanding equitable access to higher, technical, and vocational education.

Over the next three years, the initiative will provide educational financing to 600,000 young people, with about 80 per cent of funds directed to low-income students and women, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

Uzbekistan, home to around 10 million people aged 14-30, considers expanding youth access to education a strategic priority. Despite a surge in higher education enrollment-from 8 per cent in 2017 to 48 per cent in 2024-the educational loan system faces challenges, including pressure on commercial banks, reliance on state subsidies, and misalignment with labor market needs, particularly in STEM and ICT fields.

The EduImkon program, running 2026-2028, will modernize the student financing system by introducing a unified online platform, improved interagency coordination, and greater transparency. It will ease eligibility for low-income students and women, align programs with labor market demands, and pilot income-contingent loan schemes to support graduates facing temporary unemployment.

By December 2028, the program expects to serve 600,000 students through 12 commercial banks, with $190 million targeting vulnerable groups and promoting high-demand fields. Additionally, $30 million in private investment will be mobilized, easing the burden on the state budget and boosting educational opportunities for Uzbekistan’s youth.