The detention of Tagaybek uulu occurred against the backdrop of radical changes in the driver training system. Since the beginning of this year, the Presidential Administration has introduced a new regulation for training and issuing driver's licenses, requiring citizens to undergo training only in state driving schools.
According to representatives of private driving schools, since January 23, their activities have effectively been suspended. They claim that the State Center for Vehicle Registration has closed access to the unified database, making it impossible for educational institutions to operate.
On January 27, several heads of private driving schools, including Tagaybek uulu, visited a government institution demanding explanations and expressed their concerns in interviews with the media.
This situation attracted the attention of deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh, who discussed the need to create a commission to study the consequences of the new reform at a meeting on January 28.
The new rules also imply an updated curriculum, according to which the training period for obtaining a category B driver's license is 480 hours (10 months), and for categories B and C — 12 months.
On January 30, President Sadyr Japarov signed a decree suspending the licenses of private driving schools, which solidified the changes in this area.
In an interview with "Kabar," the president explained his decision:
— Most private driving schools are only interested in profit, not in the quality training of drivers. Citizens simply submitted documents and then, without undergoing training, received certificates and driver's licenses, often through bribes.
There was a corrupt scheme with the state enterprise "Unaa," which issued licenses without proper verification.
As is known, exams were conducted without significant difficulties, and licenses were issued easily, thanks to bribes.
Now, with the introduction of strict control at the state enterprise "Unaa," many graduates of private driving schools cannot pass the exam, attempting it 10-15 times. This is due to a lack of knowledge, as private driving schools did not provide proper training.
Many young people with driver's licenses do not know how to drive and say, "I'll buy a car — I'll learn."
— Can we consider the increase in traffic accidents a consequence of this problem?
— There are many reasons for this, and they arise unexpectedly. But one of the main reasons is the low level of requirements for driver training.
Every year in Kyrgyzstan, more than 900 people die as a result of traffic accidents, and in some years this figure exceeds a thousand. This is a serious problem. Even during wartime, the number of casualties is not as high as in traffic accidents.
Corruption in the driver training system, the purchase of licenses, poor-quality training, and irresponsible attitudes are the main reasons for the increase in accidents. We must acknowledge this.
— What are the advantages of state driving schools?
— State driving schools have created all the necessary conditions for training. There will be modern training bases, qualified specialists, and relevant educational materials. Training will include not only vehicle operation but also knowledge about its structure, technical fundamentals, traffic rules, and road behavior culture.
The main thing is not profit, but human life. The safety of citizens is a priority for the state.
— The owners of private driving schools are unhappy with the closure of their businesses. How will you respond to them?
— We warned them in advance about the need for reform. We said that the licenses of private driving schools would be terminated starting in 2026. However, many continued to operate under old schemes, focusing on quick profits instead of quality training.
We will not leave specialists from private driving schools without work and will offer them vacancies in state educational institutions.
