Before the revolution, there were 107 Russian schools in Kyrgyzstan, where, in addition to Russian children, 574 Kyrgyz students were enrolled. The fight against illiteracy took on large proportions. By 1923, there were already 323 schools, of which 251 had Kyrgyz as the language of instruction, with more than 20,000 students. Schools and courses were organized for adult education and teacher training. By 1939, the literacy rate in the republic reached 70%.
In the 1930s, the first higher educational institutions were opened: in 1933, a veterinary institute was established in Frunze, which was soon transformed into an agricultural institute; in 1939, a medical institute was opened; and pedagogical institutes were established in the cities of Osh and Przhevalsk in 1939 and 1940, respectively. A significant problem that took many years to overcome was the education of Kyrgyz girls. Gradually, women became liberated, removed their veils, and began attending schools. Considering the specifics of working with girls and women, a women's pedagogical institute named after V. V. Mayakovsky was opened in the republic. Graduates of this institution helped solve many problems related to the education of girls. During this period, more than 2,000 students were enrolled in higher educational institutions in the republic.
During the war, several institutes of the USSR Academy of Sciences and higher educational institutions were evacuated to Kyrgyzstan. The scientists who arrived here provided comprehensive assistance in the development of science in the republic. In 1943, the Kyrgyz branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences was opened in Frunze. Some theaters and the State Symphony Orchestra were also relocated here during the war. During these years, educational institutions continued to operate in Kyrgyzstan: 1,600 schools with 230,000 students, 34 technical schools, and six higher educational institutions. Graduates of the Women's Pedagogical Institute named after V. V. Mayakovsky helped solve many problems related to the education of girls. During this period, more than 2,000 students were enrolled in higher educational institutions in the republic.
During the years of Soviet power, a network of preschool and extracurricular institutions was created in the republic. In 1979, more than 60% of preschool-aged children were raised in preschool institutions, employing 8,168 people, including 5,500 with higher education. More than 120 children's extracurricular institutions operated: Houses and Palaces of Pioneers, technical stations, tourist centers, and various sports schools. More than 100,000 children participated in these activities.
During the Great Patriotic War, the number of teaching staff was supplemented by 1,124 evacuated specialists in public education, of whom 959 worked in schools and 121 in orphanages. The relocated Leningrad Institute of Physical Culture named after P. F. Lesgaft, Rostov University, and Kharkov Medical Institute operated in the republic. A total of 24 orphanages and preschool institutions were evacuated, with a total of 1,572 wards.
