Education in Kyrgyzstan

Education in Kyrgyzstan is compulsory for nine years, between ages seven and 15.[1] Following four years of primary and five years of lower secondary school, the system offers two years of upper secondary school, specialized secondary school, or vocational/technical school.[1]

The Ministry of Education and Science (MES) is in charge of Education in Kyrgyzstan.[2] Budget cuts that have reduced teacher salaries and equipment availability are reflected disproportionately in reduced numbers of female students.[1]

In 2008, 3.7 percent of gross domestic product was spent on education.[3] In 2001 some 89 percent of the relevant age-group was enrolled in the compulsory program, but this figure has decreased in the early 2000s.[1][3] In 2004 the literacy rate in Kyrgyzstan was 98.7 percent.[1]

Structure and organization

Pre-school and primary Education

A public school in Bishkek

Pre-school is addressed to children from 3 to 6/7 and is not compulsory.[2] Access to it is however limited (net enrollment ratio of 10% in 2005).[3] Primary School usually starts at 6 or 7, lasts four years and is compulsory. Since 2007, uniforms are required in primary education. The law was pointed out as a source of school-drop out, as the uniform has to be bought by the parents.[3] Teaching quality is sometime described as "poor":[3] Kyrgyzstan ranked last in reading, mathematics and science at PISA 2006.[3]

Secondary Education

Secondary Education begins with the Basic secondary Education, which lasts 4 years and is compulsory.[2] Students have then the choice between comprehensive and vocation Education. Comprehensive Education is constituted of a 2 two year curriculum, which grants -if completed- a certificate of completion ("attestat"). The certificate is generally required in order to join a university.[4] Vocational Education is offered through 3 different kind of courses: A three year course mixing vocational and general education and preparing for higher education, a two year course mixing vocational and general education (without preparation to higher Education), and finally, a ten month course of pure vocational education (also opened to adults).[5] Vocational Education is given in Professional lyceum and vocational technical colleges.[5]

Tertiary Education

Osh State University

Higher Education includes universities, academies, specialized higher education institutes and institutes.[2] There are 54 tertiary education institutions, 33 public for 21 private.[4] The Gross Enrolment Rate in Higher Education was 12,5% in 2011/2012.[4]

Universities deliver Bachelor(Bakalavr) degree in 4 years, which allows to pursue into master(Magistr) programs, lasting 2 years. They also offer a "specialist degree"(specialist) in 5(or 6 for medical and architecture studies) years. The specialist and the master degrees both open the door to PhD programs(aspirantura).[4] Academies offer the same degrees in fields of scientific activity. An institute is usually a specialized branch of a university or an academy. Specialized Higher Education institutes are narrow profiles higher education institutions.[4] There were criticisms about the competency of university lecturers in Kyrgyzstan: if a Master degree is theoretically required to teach at university, most teachers would actually hold a Bachelor, or even no degree at all.[4]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Education in Kyrgyzstan.
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Kyrgyzstan country profile. Library of Congress Federal Research Division (January 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "World Data on Education: Kyrgyzstan". UNESCO-IBE. August 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Education in Kyrgyzstan". UNICEF. 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Higher Education in Kyrgyzstan". European Commission. 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Vocational Education in Kyrgyzstan". UNESCO-UNEVOC. 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.

External links