INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

University

Institute

College

Academy

School leaving and higher education credentials:

Attestat o Srednem Obščem Obrazovanii

Bakalavr

Diplom Specialista

Magistr

Kandidat Nauk

Doktor Nauk

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Pre-higher education:

Duration of compulsory education:

Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 15

Structure of school system:

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Primary school

Length of program in years: 4

Age level from: 6 to: 10

Basic Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Secondary school

Length of program in years: 5

Age level from: 10 to: 15

Certificate/diploma awarded: State examinations

Complete Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Secondary school

Length of program in years: 2

Age level from: 15 to: 17

Certificate/diploma awarded: Attestat o Srednem Obrazovanii

Vocational Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Vocational secondary school

Length of program in years: 3

Age level from: 15 to: 17

School education:

Primary education lasts for three or four years and is compulsory. Secondary education is divided into five years of basic secondary (Grades V-IX) and two years of complete secondary (Grades X-XI) which lead to the award of the Attestat o Srednem Obrazovanii giving access to higher education. At the end of basic secondary education, students sit the State examinations in five subjects. There is an entrance examination to enter universities.Professional schools (technical and boarding schools) admit students with the certificate of basic secondary and complete general secondary education. Training of qualified workers is offered in more than 210 trades. The duration of courses is three years for basic secondary school graduates and one year and a half for students with complete secondary education. Vocational secondary training is for students who want to obtain a specific specialization. The system includes teacher training establishments, medical colleges and technikumsand its main task is the preparation of mid-level specialists.

Higher education:

Higher education is provided by universities, academies, institutes and colleges, most of them state-run. According to the Higher Education Law of 1992, their structure was considerably changed. This Law was amended in 1997. New universities were founded in the central region and some specialized higher education institutions were reconstructed as multidisciplinary universities. Governmental and non-governmental institutions have equal status.There are also several private higher education institutions. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is responsible for education in the country.

Main laws/decrees governing higher education:

Decree: Higher Education Law (amended 1997) Year: 1992

Academic year:

Classes from: Sep to: Jul

Languages of instruction: Kirghiz, Russian, Uzbek

Stages of studies:

Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):

Non-university level:

Non-university higher education is provided by professional schools where studies last for one-and-a-half years for those with complete secondary education.

University level studies:

University level first stage: Bakalavr, Diploma of Specialist:

The first stage of university studies leads to a Bachelor's Degree after four to five years' study or to a Diploma of Specialist after five years' study.

University level second stage: Master's degree, Kandidat Nauk:

The second stage leads to a Master's Degree after a minimum of one year's further study or to a Kandidat Nauk after a further three years beyond the Diploma of Specialist and a thesis.

University level third stage: PhD, Doktor Nauk:

A PhD Degree is conferred after a further two to three years' study beyond the Master's Degree and a Doktor Nauk is conferred after defence of a thesis.

Teacher education:

Training of secondary school teachers

Secondary school teachers are trained in pedagogical secondary establishments but, nowadays, 71% are higher education graduates. All teachers must take part in in-service training courses every five years. This is being undertaken by the Kyrgyz Institute of Education.

Training of higher education teachers

Higher education teachers must hold a Candidate of Science or a doctoral degree.

Non-traditional studies:

Distance higher education

Kyrgyz University offers correspondence courses.

NATIONAL BODIES

Administration & co-ordination:

Responsible authorities:

Ministry of Education, Science and Culture

Head: Dosbol Nur Uulu, Minister

257 Tynystanov Street
720040 Biškek
Kyrgyzstan

Tel: +996(312) 662 442

Fax: +996(312) 228 604/ 228 786

ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Admission to non university higher education studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Attestat o Srednem Obščem Obrazovanii

Admission to university-level studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Attestat o Srednem Obščem Obrazovanii

Entrance exams required: In 2002, national entrance exams were introduced (the Obščepespyblikanskoe Testirovanie-Kyrgyz National Scholarship Test or the American SAT)

Recognition of studies & qualifications:

Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):

Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (MONK)

Deals with credential recognition for entry to: University

Services provided & students dealt with: All institutions (private and public) must be licenced by MONK

STUDENT LIFE

Student expenses and financial aid

Student costs:

Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 2500 (Som)

Maximum: 17000 (Som)

Foreign students tuition fees: Minimum: 500 (US Dollar)

Maximum: 2500 (US Dollar)

GRADING SYSTEM

Usual grading system in secondary school

Full Description: 5 excellent; 4 good; 3 satisfactory; 2 unsatisfactory

Highest on scale: 5

Pass/fail level: 3

Lowest on scale: 2

NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

Data for academic year: 2003-2004

Source: International Ataturk Alatoo University, updated from IBE website, 2003 and Swedish NARIC, 2004 (except for governing bodies updated 2005)