In the final of the republican competition "Best School Chef - 2025," which took place at the Republican Center for Competencies of the Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov, the winners were determined.
The competition was organized by the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP) and the "Institute of Sectoral Nutrition" of the CIS, responsible for student nutrition.
This initiative serves an important purpose of the ministry — improving the quality of hot meals in educational institutions and developing the professional level of school chefs, as well as implementing best practices across the country.
In the first stage of the competition, 417 chefs from various regions and cities of Kyrgyzstan participated, but only seven of them managed to reach the final, demonstrating a high level of skill and creativity.
Each finalist prepared a unique hot dish created with consideration of the school menu, adhering to three mandatory criteria:
* the cost of one serving should not exceed 30 soms;
* the use of local products;
* the mandatory presence of vegetables or fruits in the composition.
The final part included three challenges: dish presentation, knowledge of sanitary standards, and practical cooking. The jury evaluated the taste, presentation, cooking technology, and explanation of the dish's health benefits for students.
The results of the competition showed the following outcomes:
* First place was taken by Altynai Zharmatova from the Batken region, representing the Alchybay Toralieva Secondary School. She received a certificate for 50,000 soms for purchasing kitchen equipment.
* Second place went to Sairakan Mambetalieva from secondary school No. 64 of the Oktyabrsky district of Bishkek, awarded a certificate for 30,000 soms.
* Third place was taken by Lunara Saadabekova from the Sagynbek Duyshenbiev Secondary School in the Talas region, who received a certificate for 20,000 soms.
In addition, the finalists were awarded commemorative prizes and certificates from the Ministry of Education.
"Such competitions not only reveal the talents of chefs but also help provide children with quality and affordable hot meals," noted a leading specialist of the School Education Department of the Ministry of Education.
