SOVIET IDEOLOGY AND EDUCATION: THE ROLE OF IDEOLOGY IN UZBEK SCHOOL CURRICULA (1924–1991)

This article examines the impact of Soviet ideology on the education system in Uzbekistan between 1924 and 1991, with a particular focus on how ideological principles were embedded into school curricula. During this period, education was not only a tool for literacy and knowledge acquisition but also a mechanism for shaping political consciousness and loyalty to the Soviet state. Uzbek schools were required to adopt centralized programs that emphasized Marxist-Leninist philosophy, the history of the Communist Party, and the promotion of socialist values. At the same time, while education contributed to the modernization and increased literacy rates among the Uzbek population, it also limited intellectual freedom by restricting access to alternative worldviews. The research highlights both the achievements and contradictions of Soviet educational policy in Uzbekistan, demonstrating how ideology influenced teaching methods, subject content, and students’ worldview. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the relationship between politics and education in Soviet Central Asia.