Kanybek Tumanbaev, the head of the President's Office of Kyrgyzstan, commented on the protests by representatives of private driving schools regarding the reform of driver training and the issuance of driver's licenses. He emphasized that the changes are not against business, but aimed at increasing road safety and reducing mortality among citizens.
According to Tumanbaev, for a long time, there have been cases in the country where driver's licenses were effectively sold in private driving schools, which contributed to the rise in the number of traffic accidents.
“This system has left severe consequences for society. Behind every accident are ruined lives, lost lives, and orphaned children. In 2025, compared to 2024, there is an increase in the number of traffic accidents and fatalities. This is not a coincidence, but the result of years of inaction,” he noted.
Tumanbaev also pointed out that the owners of private driving schools were informed about the upcoming changes. All heads of driving schools gathered at “Yntymak Ordo,” where the essence and stages of the reform were explained in detail to them.
“Statements that no one was warned are not true,” he added.
In addition, the head of the presidential office noted the low level of knowledge of traffic rules among drivers, which is confirmed by the high failure rates of trainees in theoretical exams.
“Driving is not just about operating a vehicle; it is a huge responsibility. Behind the wheel, a person is responsible not only for themselves but also for the lives of other road users,” he emphasized.
At the same time, Tumanbaev noted that the reform does not aim to discredit all private driving schools.
“There are qualified specialists and good teachers working in this field. We aim to clean up the system so that the best professionals can work in the state education system and ensure the safety of citizens,” he added.
As part of the reform, a complete modernization of the vehicle registration process and the issuance of driver's licenses is also planned. One of the key aspects will be training trainees only in driving schools that are under state control.
From mid-February 2026, applications for training will be accepted under a new curriculum that will comply with updated state standards.
“These changes are not against business, but for the protection of human lives. The beginning may be challenging, but we will bring order. The state will decisively eliminate corrupt elements and complete the reform,” Kanybek Tumanbaev concluded.
