GLOBAL DIGITALIZATION AND WOMEN’S EDUCATION: CHALLENGES OF IMPLEMENTING THE INTERNATIONAL AGENDA IN CENTRAL ASIA

Abstract

In the context of rapid global digitalization, ensuring equal access of women and girls to modern educational opportunities has become increasingly critical. Digital technologies are not only tools for acquiring knowledge but also decisive factors of socio-economic development, shaping both individual and national competitiveness. Central Asia including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, has formally committed to major international frameworks on gender equality in education, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Beijing Platform for Action, and the CEDAW Convention. Nevertheless, the practical implementation of these commitments continues to encounter significant obstacles.

This article examines international policy documents defining the global agenda in digital education and women’s rights and analyzes national strategies and legislative initiatives of the five Central Asian states. The findings reveal that, despite formal progress, several persistent challenges remain: insufficient digital infrastructure, uneven internet access between urban and rural areas, deeply rooted socio-cultural stereotypes that limit girls’ professional trajectories, and institutional shortcomings in adopting and enforcing international standards.

A comparative analysis of the level of digitalization in the education sector and women’s access to digital resources highlights key areas requiring urgent attention. The article formulates practical recommendations to reduce the digital gender divide, strengthen institutional mechanisms, and enhance the effectiveness of implementing international commitments in the region.

Overall, the study reflects the current state of the issue and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach that combines infrastructural, cultural, and governance measures to ensure that the digital era becomes one of equal opportunities for all, rather than a source of new inequalities.