Vakunov noted that one of the main areas of joint work remains education. An important project is the construction of nine new general education schools in Kyrgyzstan, funded by the Russian Federation. This project has received "presidential" status, as its launch involved the participation of the heads of state of both countries.
The ambassador emphasized that the implementation of this project will help ease the burden on Kyrgyzstan's education system, considering the rapid population growth and the increasing number of schoolchildren. Each of the new schools will accommodate 1,224 students and will operate according to Russian educational standards, taking into account local features.
The schools will be built with funds from Russia and will also receive financing for their operation, including teacher salaries. Initially, the plan is to open three schools—in Bishkek, Karakol, and Batken—by September 1, 2027. Subsequently, similar educational institutions will be established in other regions of the country.
In addition, support for Kyrgyz schools continues through the provision of textbooks in the Russian language and literature. Within the framework of the 26th intergovernmental commission of Russia and Kyrgyzstan, 651,000 adapted textbooks were delivered for Kyrgyz students. This work will continue.
The ambassador identified the initiative to create a unified educational space between Russia and Kyrgyzstan, proposed by the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov and supported by Vladimir Putin, as the basis for further cooperation in the field of education. The operator of this initiative is the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization "Eurasia".
As for higher education, there are currently about 11,000 students from Kyrgyzstan studying at Russian universities, of which 5,400 are receiving education on a budgetary basis. In 2025, grants were introduced for talented youth from Kyrgyzstan, covering expenses for travel, accommodation, and medical insurance.
The ambassador also noted the modernization of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University (KRSU) as part of the flagship higher education project. A meeting of the board of trustees recently took place, during which development programs for the university were approved.
The Russian side allocated funds for the construction of a new KRSU campus, which will accommodate 15,000 students. Kyrgyzstan, in turn, provided a 30-hectare plot of land for this project. A memorandum and intergovernmental decisions have already been formalized, and the process of ratification by the parliaments of both countries is currently underway.
