The first set of changes pertains to the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers dated February 5, 2025, No. 63, which describes the voucher funding mechanism for universities. In the current version, the pilot project is limited to one academic year — 2025–2026. However, the law "On Education" requires that the pilot regime operate from September 1, 2024, to September 1, 2026, covering two academic years.
The Ministry clarifies that the proposed changes are technical and aimed at aligning the resolution with legislative norms. The draft also involves changing the name from "Ministry of Education and Science of the KR" to "Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Innovations of the KR" due to the reorganization of agencies under the presidential decree dated May 12, 2025, No. 145. As a result of this decree, the Ministry of Education was created, which has been assigned functions in the field of preschool, primary, and general secondary education.
The second block of amendments concerns the resolution dated June 30, 2022, No. 355. The interdepartmental commission for monitoring administrative reforms instructed two ministries in February 2026 to develop support measures for winners and prizewinners of regional school Olympiads and competitions within two months.
One of the proposed forms of support is the provision of benefits and discounts for studying at regional universities. These changes are included in the draft resolution to encourage successful school students to enroll in higher education institutions at the regional level.
Comparative Table
| Current Edition | Proposed Edition |
| Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Approval of the Temporary Procedure for the Voucher Funding Mechanism for Educational Organizations of Higher and Secondary Vocational Education" dated February 5, 2025, No. 63 | |
| 2. Establish that: 1) the pilot testing of the voucher funding mechanism does not apply to educational organizations of higher and secondary vocational education located in the Batken region of the Kyrgyz Republic; 2) the admission of applicants for pedagogical training directions/specialties to educational organizations of higher and secondary vocational education for the 2025-2026 academic year is carried out in accordance with the Procedure for the Admission of Persons to Educational Organizations of Secondary Vocational Education of the Kyrgyz Republic, approved by the resolution of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Approval of Acts Regulating the Activities of Educational Organizations of Secondary Vocational Education of the Kyrgyz Republic" dated July 4, 2012, No. 470, and the Procedure for Admission to Educational Organizations of Higher Professional Education of the Kyrgyz Republic, approved by the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Approval of Regulatory Legal Acts in the Field of Higher and Secondary Vocational Education of the Kyrgyz Republic" dated June 30, 2022, No. 355. | 2. Establish that: 1) the pilot testing of the voucher funding mechanism does not apply to educational organizations of higher and secondary vocational education located in the Batken region of the Kyrgyz Republic; 2) the admission of applicants for pedagogical training directions/specialties to educational organizations of higher and secondary vocational education for the 2025–2026, 2026–2027 academic years is carried out in accordance with the Procedure for the Admission of Persons to Educational Organizations of Secondary Vocational Education of the Kyrgyz Republic, approved by the resolution of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Approval of Acts Regulating the Activities of Educational Organizations of Secondary Vocational Education of the Kyrgyz Republic" dated July 4, 2012, No. 470, and the Procedure for Admission to Educational Organizations of Higher Professional Education of the Kyrgyz Republic, approved by the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Approval of Regulatory Legal Acts in the Field of Higher and Secondary Vocational Education of the Kyrgyz Republic" dated June 30, 2022, No. 355. |
| 3. To the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic: 1) to conduct in the 2025-2026 academic year a pilot testing of the voucher funding mechanism for state educational grants allocated for studying in educational organizations of higher professional education for pedagogical bachelor training directions/specialties and in educational organizations of secondary vocational education for pedagogical specialties within the approved admission plan; 2) to make changes to the automated information system for participation in the competition for applicants (voucher holders) for enrollment in educational organizations of higher and secondary vocational education; 3) to conduct informational work on the pilot testing of the voucher funding mechanism for pedagogical training directions and specialties to notify participants in the process and interested parties; 4) by September 1, 2026, to summarize the results of the pilot testing of the voucher funding mechanism in educational organizations of higher and secondary vocational education and to submit proposals for its further implementation in the field of higher and secondary vocational education to the Administration of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the established manner. | 3. To the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Innovations of the Kyrgyz Republic: 1) to conduct in the 2025-2026, 2026-2027 academic years a pilot testing of the voucher funding mechanism for state educational grants allocated for studying in educational organizations of higher professional education for pedagogical bachelor training directions/specialties and in educational organizations of secondary vocational education for pedagogical specialties within the approved admission plan; 2) to make changes to the automated information system for participation in the competition for applicants (voucher holders) for enrollment in educational organizations of higher and secondary vocational education; 3) to conduct informational work on the pilot testing of the voucher funding mechanism for pedagogical training directions and specialties to notify participants in the process and interested parties; 4) by October 1 2026, to summarize the results of the pilot testing of the voucher funding mechanism in educational organizations of higher and secondary vocational education and to submit proposals for its further implementation in the field of higher and secondary vocational education to the Administration of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the established manner. |
| Temporary Procedure for the Voucher Funding Mechanism for Educational Organizations of Higher and Secondary Vocational Education, approved by the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Approval of the Temporary Procedure for the Voucher Funding Mechanism for Educational Organizations of Higher and Secondary Vocational Education" dated February 5, 2025, No. 63 | |
| 12. The funds necessary for the payment of vouchers for students admitted to higher education institutions with special status and non-state educational organizations of higher and secondary vocational education are provided for in the budget of centralized activities of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic. | 12. The funds necessary for the payment of vouchers for students admitted to higher education institutions with special status and non-state educational organizations of higher and secondary vocational education are provided for in the budget of centralized activities of the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Innovations of the Kyrgyz Republic. |
| 13. The Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic transfers the funds specified in paragraph 12 of this Temporary Procedure to the bank accounts of educational organizations of higher education with special status and non-state educational organizations of higher and secondary vocational education for the payment of student vouchers at the beginning of the quarter. | 13. The Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Innovations of the Kyrgyz Republic transfers the funds specified in paragraph 12 of this Temporary Procedure to the bank accounts of educational organizations of higher education with special status and non-state educational organizations of higher and secondary vocational education for the payment of student vouchers at the beginning of the quarter. |
| ORDER of admission to educational organizations of higher professional education of the Kyrgyz Republic, approved by the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Approval of Regulatory Legal Acts in the Field of Higher and Secondary Vocational Education of the Kyrgyz Republic" dated June 30, 2022, No. 355 | |
| 55. Outside the competition for grant places are admitted: - applicants who scored the highest points in the current calendar year based on the results of the main test ORT, to the chosen state educational organizations for any specialties and directions implemented in these educational organizations. The number of grants for the admission of this category of applicants should not exceed 50. The admission of applicants in this category is carried out by the authorized body based on personal applications from applicants; - applicants who took 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in the current calendar year in the republican school Olympiad or are prizewinners of international Olympiads, for specialties and directions that coincide with the subject of the Olympiad, at the choice of the applicants, provided they participate in the ORT and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score; - applicants who are winners, taking 1st place, and prizewinners, taking 2nd and 3rd places in the republican competition "Intellectuals of the 21st Century" of the current year, for specialties and directions of a technical profile that coincide with the nomination of the competition, at the choice of the applicants, provided they participate in the ORT and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score; - applicants who have the "Altyn Tamga" certificate, provided they participate in the ORT and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score; - applicants who are graduates of the Kyrgyz National Military Lyceum named after Hero of the Soviet Union Major General D. Asanov - to the Military Institute of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic named after Hero of the Soviet Union Lieutenant General K. Usenbekov, provided they pass a medical examination, additional tests, and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score of the ORT; - applicants who took 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in the regional school Olympiad in the current calendar year, for specialties and directions that coincide with the subject of the Olympiad, at the choice of the applicants, provided they participate in the ORT and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score. | 55. Outside the competition for grant places are admitted: - applicants who scored the highest points in the current calendar year based on the results of the main test ORT, to the chosen state educational organizations for any specialties and directions implemented in these educational organizations. The number of grants for the admission of this category of applicants should not exceed 50. The admission of applicants in this category is carried out by the authorized body based on personal applications from applicants; - applicants who took 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in the current calendar year in the republican school Olympiad or are prizewinners of international Olympiads, for specialties and directions that coincide with the subject of the Olympiad, at the choice of the applicants, provided they participate in the ORT and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score; - applicants who are winners, taking 1st place, and prizewinners, taking 2nd and 3rd places in the republican competition "Intellectuals of the 21st Century" of the current year, for specialties and directions of a technical profile that coincide with the nomination of the competition, at the choice of the applicants, provided they participate in the ORT and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score; - applicants who have the "Altyn Tamga" certificate, provided they participate in the ORT and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score; - applicants who are graduates of the Kyrgyz National Military Lyceum named after Hero of the Soviet Union Major General D. Asanov - to the Military Institute of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic named after Hero of the Soviet Union Lieutenant General K. Usenbekov, provided they pass a medical examination, additional tests, and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score of the ORT; - applicants who took 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place in the regional school competitions in the current calendar year, for specialties and directions that coincide with the subject of the competition, at the choice of the applicants, provided they participate in the ORT and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score. |
| 56. In case of equal scores, preference is given (with supporting documents): - to the applicant who has the sports title "Master of Sports of the Kyrgyz Republic," "Master of Sports of the Kyrgyz Republic of international class"; - to the applicant who has completed compulsory military service; - to the applicant who has a state certificate from the authorized state body on the state language, taking into account the "Kyrgyztest" system regarding the level of proficiency in the state language; - to the applicant who has higher scores on the subject-specific ORT test. Digital documents confirming the applicant's belonging to the above categories must be attached in the AIS, and applicants applying for directions and specialties in the field of culture and arts, physical culture and sports must provide supporting documents to the admissions committee of the educational organization. | 56. In case of equal scores, preference is given (with supporting documents): - to the applicant who has the sports title "Master of Sports of the Kyrgyz Republic," "Master of Sports of the Kyrgyz Republic of international class"; - to the applicant who has completed compulsory military service; - to the applicant who has a state certificate from the authorized state body on the state language, taking into account the "Kyrgyztest" system regarding the level of proficiency in the state language; - to the applicant who has higher scores on the subject-specific ORT test; – applicants who took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in regional competitions for school students in the current calendar year. The list of regional competitions for school students is determined by the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic. Digital documents confirming the applicant's belonging to the above categories must be attached in the AIS, and applicants applying for directions and specialties in the field of culture and arts, physical culture and sports must provide supporting documents to the admissions committee of the educational organization. |
| 73. Outside the competition, with scores corresponding to a positive evaluation, are admitted to places under a contract with payment for the cost of education (with supporting documents): - children who are orphans and children left without parental care; - persons with disabilities who, according to the conclusion of the medical and social examination, are not contraindicated for studying in a higher education institution in the chosen direction and specialty; - prizewinners of international and republican Olympiads (who took 1st-3rd places in the current year) for directions and specialties in the chosen higher education institution, for which the subject of the Olympiad is a core subject; - applicants who are winners, taking 1st place, and prizewinners, taking 2nd and 3rd places in the republican competition "Intellectuals of the 21st Century" of the current year, for specialties and directions of a technical profile that coincide with the nomination of the competition, at the choice of the applicants, provided they participate in the ORT and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score; - applicants who have the "Altyn Tamga" certificate, provided they participate in the ORT and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score. Digital documents confirming the applicant's belonging to the above categories must be attached in the AIS, and applicants applying for directions and specialties in the field of culture and arts, physical culture and sports must provide supporting documents to the admissions committee of the educational organization. | 73. Outside the competition, with scores corresponding to a positive evaluation, are admitted to places under a contract with payment for the cost of education (with supporting documents): - children who are orphans and children left without parental care; - persons with disabilities who, according to the conclusion of the medical and social examination, are not contraindicated for studying in an educational organization in the chosen direction and specialty; – prizewinners of international, republican, and regional Olympiads (who took 1st-3rd places in the current year) for directions and specialties in the chosen educational organization, for which the subject of the Olympiad is a core subject; - applicants who are winners, taking 1st place, and prizewinners, taking 2nd and 3rd places in the republican competition "Intellectuals of the 21st Century" of the current year, for specialties and directions of a technical profile that coincide with the nomination of the competition, at the choice of the applicants, provided they participate in the ORT and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score; - applicants who have the "Altyn Tamga" certificate, provided they participate in the ORT and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score; - applicants who became prizewinners of the regional school competition, taking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in the current calendar year, for specialties and directions of the profile corresponding to the nomination of the competition, at the choice of the applicants(except for educational organizations located in Bishkek), provided they participate in the ORT and receive scores equal to or above the threshold score. The list of regional competitions for school students is determined by the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic. Digital documents confirming the applicant's belonging to the above categories must be attached in the AIS, and applicants applying for directions and specialties in the field of culture and arts, physical culture and sports must provide supporting documents to the admissions committee of the educational organization. |
