Knowledge Day in Central Asia: What’s Changing in Schools This Academic Year?

Secondary schools across Central Asia are embracing modern teaching methods and aiming to elevate the status of teachers, as the new academic year begins with a wave of reforms. Kazakhstan: AI in Classrooms and Teacher Protections In Kazakhstan, the academic year begins on September 2, as Constitution Day on the 1st is a national holiday. Over 370,000 first-graders are expected to enter school this year. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, significant reforms are underway in the country’s education system. Amendments to the Law “On the Status of Teachers” will shield educators from non-teaching duties and protect them from undue legal responsibility. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has emphasized that educators should not be held accountable for incidents involving children that occur outside school or due to parental negligence. New “personal safety” lessons will also be introduced across all educational levels, from kindergartens to colleges. These age-appropriate classes will cover topics ranging from water safety and interaction with strangers to cyberbullying, financial literacy, and legal awareness. Schools and colleges are also rolling out DosbolLIKE, an anti-bullying initiative piloted in 50 schools last year, designed to curb bullying in student communities. Artificial intelligence will be introduced into the curriculum via “Digital Literacy” and “Computer Science” classes. AI-focused online courses called Day of AI are now available for grades 1-11, with training programs also developed for teachers. Despite the construction of 1,200 new schools accommodating over a million students in recent years, the high birth rate continues to strain infrastructure. In Almaty alone, the shortage exceeds 34,000 school places. Uzbekistan: Ivy League Aspirations and Civic Values In Uzbekistan, school also starts on September 2, a customary date. The first lesson will be conducted under the motto: “In the name of the Motherland, in the name of the nation, in the name of the people!” According to the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, 738,000 first-graders will receive gifts from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. An international school is set to open this September, initially enrolling 60 top-performing graduates of the 8th grade. The curriculum will include leadership and social activism training, with a focus on preparing students for admission to Ivy League universities. A nationwide talent identification and development program is also in development. The weekly Kelazhak Soati (“Hour of the Future”) class will debut this year, aiming to strengthen students’ moral values and encourage reflection on their future roles in society. Kyrgyzstan: Transition to 12-Year Education This academic year marks Kyrgyzstan’s official transition to a 12-year education system. The reform affects lesson structures, curricula, and textbooks. The transition, to be completed by 2028, includes the redistribution of students across grade levels. For example, third graders born in 2015 will skip to fifth grade, and sixth graders born in 2012 will advance to eighth grade. Further shifts are scheduled for the next two academic years. While the extended education model is expected to allow deeper learning and skills development, the transition period may cause confusion among students, parents, and educators. Adapting to new...

Kyrgyz Schools Face Persistent Shortages of Teachers and Textbooks

Kyrgyzstan continues to face serious shortages of qualified teachers and school textbooks, according to Deputy Minister of Education Nadira Jusupbekova, who addressed the issue during a recent press conference in Bishkek. Teacher Deficit in Key Subjects As of the end of the last academic year, schools across the country were short 947 teachers, Jusupbekova reported. The most acute gaps are in mathematics, Russian language, and history, though a shortage of history teachers is a more recent development. “The lack of mathematics teachers is particularly severe, especially in Bishkek,” she said. “Russian language comes next. We currently have teachers from Russia assisting us, and we’ve requested universities to increase training for mathematics and Russian language specialists.” Ongoing Textbook Shortage In addition to staffing challenges, many schools still lack adequate textbook supplies. Last year, the Ministry of Education admitted that general education schools were only 50% stocked with textbooks, forcing many students to rent materials. This year, 744 million KGS (approximately $8.5 million) was allocated from the national budget for textbook production. These funds have been used to publish new English language textbooks for grades 3-9, with a total print run exceeding 1.9 million copies. Among them are 158,700 textbooks for grade 4, printed with support from the British Embassy. Mathematics and science textbooks for grades 1-2 (over 1.2 million copies) have already been printed, with additional sets for grades 5 and 7 scheduled for release soon. Textbooks for Russian language and literature, adapted by a working group in Kyrgyzstan, will be printed in Russia. They are expected to be delivered by October 2025. Digital Platform Offers Interim Relief To address the immediate textbook shortage, the Ministry has launched the Okuu Kitebi online platform, which provides access to all school textbooks in digital format. Future updates will integrate the platform with other educational systems, enabling students and teachers to download and use materials offline. According to Okuu Kitebi Publishing House, the goal is to meet 110% of textbook demand in schools by 2030, with funding to continue coming from the national budget.