«The introduction of a common Turkic history contradicts the Kyrgyz Republic’s course towards Eurasianism»
Foundation «Eurasians – new wave» organized a discussion «Experiments in the field of education. Possible outcomes and consequences», which touched upon important issues of upcoming changes in the education system of Kyrgyzstan.
The following issues were discussed: Return to the start of the school year from September 1. «For» or «Against»?. What is the educational and economic benefit of the proposed transition to 12 years of education in schools? «History of the development of religions» –why is this subject in the school curriculum of education of a secular state? How and through what subjects will new academic subjects in Turkic history, culture and geography be introduced into the school curriculum?
Associate Professor of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University Pavel Dyatlenko:
«Over the past 30 years, the characteristic features of the transformation of our education system have been frequent changes, uncalculated copying of the Western education system and its elements, internal contradictions, a focus on recommendations and grants from Western foundations and international organizations, and dependence on changes in the political situation.
Individual elements copied from Western education (the so-called «world standards», «global trends») open our education system to external influence, ideological reformatting and further brain drain, do not take into account the interests of our economy, and distance our society from our strategic partners – Russia and other CIS countries.
The introduction of Turkish elements into our education system, examples – course «Turkic civilization» within the discipline «World History» in the first half of the 6th grade of secondary school and recently approved textbooks on «Geography of the Turkic world», «General Turkic literature» and «General Turkic history», contradicts Kyrgyzstan's course towards Eurasian integration with other post-Soviet countries.
Modernization of the education system of Kyrgyzstan is possible by abandoning the thoughtless copying of someone else’s education model and its elements, which have become familiar with the use of Western grants. For example, in Germany, 12 years of schooling are provided only for those schoolchildren who then go to university. Those who do not want to get higher education – study in schools for 9 years. In our country, it turns out that all children must study for 12 years, even if they do not enroll anywhere later.
We need a transition to developing our education model, taking into account our own historical experience, our current capabilities, the interests of our society and economy, our connections with strategic partners and neighbors».
Director of the Russian Language Institute of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University Mamed Tagaev:
«No need to blindly copy Western samples. If a person can succeed, he will also succeed in 10 years of study. 12th grade – this is again a material and financial cost of the state.
The beginning of the school year from September 1 has not only an organizational basis in the form of calendar, academic plans and teacher vacation dates. There are already traditions and semantic load. I am against breaking established programs. What has already yielded results.
What is really needed –is to adapt our values to modern realities».
