BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM: DIGITALIZATION OF CERTIFICATION, VERIFICATION OF COMPETENCIES, AND DECENTRALIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL PROCESSES

The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the application of blockchain technology in the field of education. It also examines the possibilities of a distributed ledger to ensure transparency, immutability, security, and decentralization of data on academic achievements, digital diplomas, certificates, and competencies. The author has analyzed in detail the advantages of the technology, the barriers to implementation (technical, organizational, and legal), and the long-term prospects for transforming the educational paradigm in the context of the digitalization of national systems. The article concludes with the transition to a student-centered model of education, where control over data shifts from institutions to the learners themselves [1-2].