Compulsory Distance Learning in Uzbekistan During the COVID-19 Era

Digital transformation is not a visitor in the education sector as it has introduced a variety of changes from digitizing curriculums to enabling students to learn from a distance. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to dramatic educational changes that position online instruction as the primary mode of teaching and learning worldwide. With nationwide lockdowns and movement restrictions, compulsory distance education became the means to ensure continuity of educational services. This chapter investigated this forced transition from face-to-face to online education with a particular emphasis on public and senior secondary vocational education systems in Uzbekistan. In addition to the consequences of the sudden shift to distance education, this chapter likewise examined the exacerbation of issues concerning inclusive education. The findings of this chapter underscored the detrimental effects of emergency remote education in Uzbekistan as well as the responses made to adapt to the digital learning environments.