New school year marked by many changes

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BISHKEK/ALMATY/DUSHANBE — The governments of several Central Asian republics plan changes to their school systems with the start of the new scholastic year on September 1.

Kyrgyzstan will build 108 new schools for 33,000 students, bringing the total number of schools in the country to 2,188. The State Construction and Architecture Agency said that most of the schools will be built near Bishkek in areas with high concentrations of “internal migrants,” with budgeted funds and private contributions. The authorities also plan to introduce religious studies courses based on the principles of tolerance and diversity.

The new school year, however, begins with a lawsuit brought against the government by the League of Children’s Rights Activists. The group opposes Kyrgyzstan’s requirement that school uniforms be purchased by parents, saying that it limits access to education and goes against conventions on children’s rights and the fight against discrimination in education.

A new course, Exploring Islam, will be introduced in Tajikistan’s schools this year. The subject will be taught in secondary school, from the second to sixth forms. The curriculum was changed after parliament passed a law in March designating Hanafi Islam the country’s official religion.

Schools in Kazakhstan will also introduce a new mandatory course this year, Principles of Religious Studies, which will be taught in the fifth and sixth forms by lecturers in aesthetics, history and culture.

Given the growing importance of economic development, the principles of financial literacy will be taught to earlier forms, and the principles of financial knowledge to more advanced forms. The presidential programme to support education includes the construction of 100 new schools and hospitals, most of which will be built this year. The government also plans to build 20 physics, mathematics, chemistry and biology schools for gifted students.