Central Asian Education Systems: What Does The Situation Look Like?

Orda.kz has put together a synopsis of the situation surrounding education systems in Central Asia. 

Kyrgyzstan

The country has more than 200 private educational institutions, including nurseries, schools, and universities. Education financing is carried out through three primary sources: state, private, and external funding, which includes funds from international organizations.

An example is the donor coalition "Schools-2030," which supports education projects. 

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is actively implementing a public-private partnership policy in preschool education, thanks to which over 2,000 nurseries have been opened. The State Fund for Entrepreneurship Support provides financial assistance to these institutions. To improve school education in the country, a project office aimed at improving the education system is planned.

Tajikistan

Tajikistan has a problem with overcrowding in schools, especially in rural areas. Due to the lack of schools, children often study in three shifts. The development of the private education sector and an increase in private schools can help solve this problem, improving the quality of education and increasing competition. 

Turkmenistan

There are virtually no private educational institutions in Turkmenistan, although the law allows for their operation. The only private school in the country is the Ashgabat International School, which operates with support from the U.S. government. Strict restrictions in the education sector leave many children without access to preschool education, which requires significant reform.

Kazakhstan

In Kazakhstan, the education sector is also influenced by demographics and other factors that require the participation of private capital. Experts say a gradual transition to a conscious contribution to education is noticeable.

Many of Kazakhstan's private educational institutions are non-profits that perform charitable functions or promote the development of society. All profit generated is directed to the development of the university.

In this regard, the practice of the Kazakh-British Technical University is indicative. Recently, 11 billion tenge were allocated for its development. The university is managed by the public fund NNEF, founded by Dinara and Timur Kulibayev.

Today, it is one of the few educational organizations in Kazakhstan that implement continuous education, or "Long Life Learning." Education here begins at the age of two.

Since 1998, the foundation has been developing its educational cluster, which is the basis for implementing continuous education.

Today, it includes three Miras nurseries in Astana, Almaty, and Atyrau; two Miras international schools in Astana and Almaty, the International School of Almaty, and the Arystan specialized lyceum; the Alliance of Universities of Science and Technology: International University of Information Technology (IITU), AstanaIT University (AITU), Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU), Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications named after Gumarbek Daukeyev (AUES), and the University of International Business named after Kenzhegali Sagadiyev (UIB); and a social project: SOS Children's Villages of Kazakhstan.

The experience accumulated in the Miras schools was used to create the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS), which integrated advanced international practices. 

Kazakhstan has come much closer to world standards in education organization. 

Original Author: Maria Kravtsova