Kyrgyzstan adopts concept on transition to 12-year education

The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan approved the Concept of Kyrgyzstan's transition to a 12-year system of general education, the press service of the Education Ministry said, Kabar reports. 

This document lays the foundation for key changes in the educational system of the country aimed at adapting school education to modern requirements and challenges facing Kyrgyzstan.

The concept of transition to 12-year education was developed by the Ministry of Education and Science with the participation of experts and representatives of the public, based on international standards and successful practices of other countries. Its goal is to improve the quality of education, develop the necessary modern skills and knowledge in students, and ensure the competitiveness of graduates in the labor market.

“The transition to 12-year education is a strategically important step that will allow us to create a more flexible, inclusive and innovative education system. It is important - the age of graduates will not change in any way and will remain the same as in the case of an 11-year education. Zero class will be the first, children will go to school starting from the age of 6,” the report says.

According to the Concept, the new structure of school education will be gradually introduced over several years, including training and retraining of teachers, creation and adaptation of educational standards and programs, updating the infrastructure of schools.

The main stages of implementation include:

- preparatory stage - from 2021 to 2025. At this time, educational standards and programs will be updated, teachers are already being trained, and infrastructure will be prepared.

- starting stage - in the 2025/2026 school year, children who have reached the age of 5.5-6 years old start studying in the 1st grade of a 12-year school. Children who have completed the Nariste pre-primary program in preschools and schools move on to the 2nd grade of a 12-year school to learn according to the new standards and programs.

- transitions - one student - one transition. No one will cross a grade more than once. Kyrgyzstan was also transitioning to 11-year schooling, now we are transitioning to 12-year education.

All transitions will be carried out from 2025/26 to 2027/28 school year.