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Officially, the 9-year compulsory schooling from the
children is 6 years, consisting of 4-year primary school and
5-year secondary school. Then follows 2-year general high
school or 3-year vocational school. Around 85% of young
people continue in high school and high school. The students
are taught in Kyrgyz, Russian, Uzbek and Tajik. Higher
education is offered at 33 higher education institutions,
including the National University of Bishkek (founded 1951).
In 1993, a separate university in Bishkek was opened to the
Russian-speaking population. The proportion of illiterates
of the adult population is estimated at approx. 3% (2000). See TOPSCHOOLSINTHEUSA for TOEFL, ACT, SAT testing locations and high school codes in Kyrgyzstan.
2005 Revolution I
In February 2005, thousands of protesters blocked roads
and buildings in the capital in support of 2 candidates who
had been deleted as candidates in the parliamentary
elections. Many other candidates had also been cleared for
allegedly violating electoral rules. The Human Rights League
based in New York declared itself "deeply alarmed" at the
exclusions.
The first round of elections in February 2005 triggered
demonstrations and allegations of electoral fraud. The
protests escalated after the second round on February 13,
culminating on the 21st, with protesters occupying a number
of government buildings in the southern part of the country.
In Bishkek, protesters occupied the presidential palace and
Akayev fled to Russia. On March 5, opposition leader
Kurmambek Bakiev was named interim president and in April
Akayev formally submitted his resignation petition to
parliament. At the July presidential election, Bakiyev was
formally elected to the post of president. The economy is
one of the biggest challenges facing the new government, as
40% of the population lives below the poverty line. Another
challenge is to put together a government that reflects the
regional and ethnic composition of the population.
In November, more than 2,500 in the southern part of the
country demonstrated with demands for the president's
intervention. The protesters stated in a statement that the
increasing crime rate in Jalalabad - including involving
government officials - creating deep concern in the
population. The protesters at the same time called on the
government to defend democracy, the judiciary and to make
efforts to reactivate the economy.
At the end of April 2006, 10-15,000 members of the
opposition gathered in front of the Bishkek government
building demanding constitutional and legal reform, freedom
of the press and punishment of corrupt officials. The
protesters further demanded that the president's chief of
administration resign and the state attorney be fired.
On May 2, 13 out of the country's 15 ministers resigned
after Parliament passed a distrust agenda. Only remaining
ministers were the Minister of Transport and Culture.
However, Bakiev rejected the ministers' resignation requests
and gave them his full support.
After massive demonstrations in the capital Bishkek in
November, Bakiev agreed to hand over parts of his power to
parliament.
In April 2007, thousands of protesters gathered at the
government building and sought Bakiev's departure. He was
accused of failing to solve the country's serious problems
of corruption and violence. Police cracked down on the
demonstration and hundreds more were injured.
The December 16 election was overwhelmingly won by the Ak
Zhol party, which gained a majority in parliament. On
December 24, its leader, Igor Chudinov, was appointed new
Prime Minister of the country.
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