Fragments of an interview with Baysalov, which aired on the "Nomad" television channel, are actively discussed on social media, where he shares his thoughts on the necessity of dismissing "excess" teachers.
“In the first months of my work, I visited various schools and heard many complaints from directors about the condition of the buildings. I responded that I was not concerned about that — the main thing is that the teacher works well with the students. I am not interested in roofs and buildings; what matters is what happens between you,” he shared.
“We built 800 unnecessary schools that are now standing empty in villages. Now we are trying to use them for kindergartens,” Baysalov added.“Education in our country is in a deplorable state, and this is a sad reality. Some say that the Soviet school was the best, but 30 years have passed, and it no longer exists. The education system must be updated every three years, as is done in other countries. Even the best schools today are in crisis, and the 12-year education system is just a small part of the problem,” he noted.
Additionally, Baysalov pointed out the need for changes in curricula, teaching methods, and the teachers themselves.
“At yesterday's meeting with Minister Kendirbaeva, I insisted on conducting an attestation. It is necessary to identify 15-20% of weak teachers and dismiss them. There is a shortage of teachers, but we can hire people from other professions, such as former journalists, and offer them a decent salary — 50-60 thousand soms,” he emphasized.
Reaction to Baysalov's Words
The statements of the Deputy Prime Minister have caused a wide public resonance and active discussions online. In an interview with Kaktus.media, Baysalov stated that his words were misinterpreted. He clarified that Kyrgyz schools are in serious crisis, and reforms will not lead to improvements if the staff is not updated.“I am glad that this fragment of my interview sparked discussion, but I recommend everyone to familiarize themselves with the full broadcast, where I warn about the possibility of my words being distorted. We have over 800 half-empty schools in villages, and it would be better if they were located in cities where young families are concentrated,” he added.
“As for the dismissal of teachers, it concerns those who do not meet professional standards and may harm children. I do not intend to keep such people employed,” Baysalov noted.According to him, one of the reasons young teachers leave schools is the negative atmosphere created by incompetent teachers.
“These ineffective teachers often turn out to be the most arrogant; they take all the resources and create tension for new specialists. Because of this, young professionals do not remain in the profession,” he explained.
“We can replace textbooks and methods, but the main thing is to change the culture and atmosphere in schools. Students should be at the center of the educational process, not subordinate to directors or individual teachers,” he added.Baysalov also described the type of teachers he considers ineffective.
“These are educators who entered the profession in the 90s and 2000s. Many of them have not mastered the basic subjects themselves and lack sufficient education. We will work on identifying them and impose strict requirements,” he said.
In response to a question about how such teachers will be identified, he stated that this is the task of the Ministry of Education.
“Some teachers, upon receiving laptops, claimed they did not know how to use them and preferred to leave. This already indicates their insufficient preparedness for modern requirements,” Baysalov added.
“We will work diligently on these issues to separate quality personnel from the incompetent. The implementation of 12-year education is not just cosmetic changes, but a complete transformation of our system,” he concluded.
Significance of These Changes
Despite calls to attract specialists from other professions, Baysalov emphasizes that their training does not guarantee immediate effectiveness. Working with children requires not only knowledge but also experience, understanding of psychology, and classroom management skills. Therefore, simple staff replacement will not solve the problem.
Teacher salaries in Kyrgyzstan remain among the lowest, and even with the expected increase, they will be below the national average. It is important to consider that prices for basic goods and services are rising at the same rate. A study by Kaktus.media showed that some products, such as shawarma, have increased in price faster than teachers' salaries. Therefore, to attract youth to the profession, earnings must be significantly higher than the current level.
Furthermore, the problem lies not only in the insufficient qualifications of teachers but also in the education system itself. The teaching profession is subject to rapid burnout due to numerous factors, including low salaries, pressure from administration, and overcrowded classrooms. Therefore, simple staff replacement will not resolve the issue, as the main cause lies within the system itself, which can exhaust even the most motivated specialists.
