Photo from the interviewee's archive. Avtandil Teshabaev
— How did you start your journey in education?
— I was born and raised in the village of Ay-Tamga, located in the Nookat district of the Osh region. My father is a teacher, and my mother is a midwife. I received my secondary education at the Kyrgyz-Turkish Lyceum in Kyzyl-Kiya.
My academic journey began at Istanbul University (Turkey), where I earned a bachelor's degree in English language teaching. After that, I returned to Kyrgyzstan and graduated from the International University "Ala-Too," obtaining my first master's degree in education.
Over time, I increasingly realized the importance of management, strategy, and technology in the field of education. Therefore, I decided to continue my studies abroad and enrolled in SP Jain School of Global Management in Sydney (Australia), where I successfully completed a second master's degree in "Artificial Intelligence in Business Management."
It is important to note that SP Jain University provided me with financial assistance, which significantly eased our move to Australia and helped us adapt more quickly.
Ultimately, my professional path has been at the intersection of pedagogy, educational management, and modern technologies.
Before moving to Australia, I worked in education for over 18 years, including about nine years as a director in the "Sapat" educational institutions. Managing a school, developing curricula, and interacting with teachers, parents, and the community became part of my daily work and remain important pillars in my career.
— How was your study experience in Sydney?
— The first ten months were a real challenge. During the day, I studied at the university, and in the evenings, I worked at a bakery, often late into the night. The difficulties of balancing study and work taught me discipline and time management.
After ten months, while studying, I began to familiarize myself with the Australian education system and apply for jobs in educational institutions.
I noticed that here, the ability to balance study, work, and responsibility is highly valued.
At the end of 2023, I received a job offer from one of the private schools in Melbourne and moved closer to the city with my family. Since January 2024, I have held the position of director at Sirius College, a private school.
— What are the main differences between private schools in Kyrgyzstan and Australia?
— In my opinion, three key differences can be highlighted:
- the well-being of the student is equally considered alongside their academic achievements;
- processes are transparent and systematic, while schools have significant autonomy;
- parents are seen as active partners in the school community, rather than just external participants.
— Many Kyrgyz people leave to study or work without their children. Did you consider such an option?
— We moved to Australia as a family in March 2023. We never considered leaving alone — all decisions were made together.
However, this decision was not easy. My wife and I had to leave our established life, jobs, and stability in Kyrgyzstan and start everything from scratch. Our goal was professional growth, gaining experience, and creating better conditions for our children's education and health.
I would like to emphasize the significance of my wife Nuriya's support. She is a dentist, and in Kyrgyzstan, she had her own private clinic. Moving to Australia was a significant turning point in her life as well.
The adaptation of the children, organizing our household, and maintaining the emotional balance of the family became possible thanks to her patience and support. I am sincerely grateful to her for this.
— How have your sons adapted to their new life? Was it difficult for them to integrate into the groups?
— For our sons (15, 13, and 7 years old), the move was a challenging experience. They had to adapt to a new country, language environment, and school all at once. However, the Australian education system places great emphasis on student well-being, language support, and emotional safety. As a result, our children feel confident in their new school environment.
— What are your wife's plans for professional activity in Australia?
— Nuriya did not leave her profession after the move and intends to continue working as a dentist in Australia.
This is not easy, as working requires diploma recognition, passing professional exams, and meeting regulatory requirements. The process is complex and time-consuming, but entirely feasible. Currently, she is gradually moving in that direction.
— What surprises you about life in Australia?
— In Australia, I appreciate the safety, rule of law, multiculturalism, and the balance between work and personal life.
We strive to become part of the local community while respecting its traditions, culture, and laws, while also preserving Kyrgyz values as an important principle of our family.
— A law recently came into effect in Australia prohibiting social media for children under 16. What is your opinion on this?
— The law adopted in Australia is significant. According to it, starting from December 10, 2025, children under 16 are prohibited from using social media.
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This law places responsibility not on the children, but on the social platforms.
The main objectives of the law are:
- to protect children from harmful content;
- to prevent cyberbullying;
- to reduce dependence on social media;
- to lessen social pressure.
By law, platforms are required to use artificial intelligence and data analysis systems to determine the age of users.
I support this decision, but I believe that a simple ban is not enough. If a child does not understand the reasons for the restrictions, they will find ways to circumvent them. Therefore, it is extremely important to have:
- open communication with children;
- trust within the family;
- digital literacy.
This issue is also relevant for Kyrgyzstan. Social media has a negative impact on children:
- the rise of cyberbullying;
- social comparison causes psychological pressure;
- nighttime phone use disrupts sleep and the learning process.
This is not a private issue, but a societal problem.
Australia has shown with its law that the psychological and emotional safety of children is the responsibility of the state. Kyrgyzstan should seriously consider this issue.
— What do you miss most while away from your homeland?
— Being far from home, I particularly feel nostalgia for my native language, loved ones, national cuisine, and warm communication. These feelings help me not to forget my roots.
— What are your plans for the future?
— In the next five to ten years, I see myself working in the field of education, implementing international projects, and contributing to the adaptation of successful foreign practices into the education system of Kyrgyzstan.
My main goal is to contribute to the upbringing of a new generation: thoughtful, responsible, open to the world, while preserving their values.
