By Altynai Raiymkulova

Copyright trend

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, September 27.
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliyev has
directed the State Mortgage Company (GIK) to develop a zero percent
mortgage program for young teachers during a cabinet meeting,
Trend reports.

In the course of the meeting, Minister of Education
Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva presented a report on the current state of

Meanwhile, the initiative is part of a broader set of
measures announced to address challenges in the national education

The data revealed that 257,378 children are enrolled
in 1,997 kindergartens (286 of which are private). Furthermore, a
total of 1,536,633 students are attending schools across Kyrgyzstan
for the current academic year, which marks the full implementation
of the new 12-year education model.

Beyond the housing initiative, Prime Minister
Kasymaliyev outlined a comprehensive agenda for the Ministry of
Education. Key directives include:

Expanding Preschool Access: Accelerating efforts to
increase the availability of kindergarten slots, particularly in
regional areas.

Teacher Equipment: Finalizing the provision of
personal laptops for all teachers.

Curriculum Funding: Allocating 3 billion som for the
development and publication of new textbooks and learning materials
to support the 12-year education system.

Teacher Training: Implementing regular professional
development programs to ensure educators are equipped for the
demands of the updated curriculum.

Recognizing demographic pressures, the government is
also focusing on infrastructure. The Ministry of Construction has
been tasked with revising the master plans for building educational
institutions in the cities of Bishkek, Osh, and Manas. These
revisions must account for population growth and ensure that new
schools comply with modern civil engineering standards and
inclusive accessibility requirements.

The proposed zero percent mortgage program represents
a significant incentive aimed at improving the livelihoods of
educators and making the teaching profession more attractive. The
measure addresses a critical need, as the sector struggles to
attract and retain qualified personnel against a backdrop of salary
disparities: the average teacher’s salary is around 25,000 soms
($286), significantly lower than the national average of 42,500
soms and the Bishkek average of 54,000 soms. This financial
pressure is compounded by a significant staffing shortfall;
according to Deputy Minister of Education Nadira Dzhusupbekova,
Kyrgyzstan faced a shortage of nearly 950 teachers at the start of
the 2025 academic year. If implemented effectively, the program
could help address teacher retention and stimulate economic
activity in the housing sector.