Kyrgyz PM orders faster textbook delivery as 2.46 mln of 3.67 mln reach schools

September 21, 2026 at 06:50 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliyev held a meeting on September 21 on textbook supply for schools. As of that date, 2.46 million of the planned 3.67 million textbooks and teaching materials had been delivered to schools, with over 1 million still in transit. He ordered the Ministry of Education to speed up development and delivery, while law enforcement continues an investigation into the sale of free textbooks on markets.

Key Facts

In 2026, Kyrgyzstan planned to publish 3,668,606 copies of textbooks and teaching materials with a budget of 760.2 million soms.
As of September 21, 2,455,868 copies had been delivered to schools, and over 1 million were still in transit.
In 2025, 855 million soms were spent on publishing 4,735,870 copies of educational materials.
Deputy Dastan Bekeshev bought a third-grade math textbook marked 'Not for sale' at Dordoi market for 650 soms.
The Uchkun printing house reported selling textbooks worth 23 million soms, claiming the sales were lawful.

Textbook Supply Shortfall

Kyrgyzstan is transitioning to a 12-year school system, requiring new textbooks and teaching materials. For 2026, the government allocated 744 million soms from the republican budget, and the Ministry of Education added 16.2 million soms through redistribution, bringing total funding to 760.2 million soms. With these funds, the plan was to publish 3,668,606 copies of textbooks, workbooks, and teacher guides. By September 21, only 2,455,868 copies had reached schools, leaving over 1 million copies still in the delivery stage. Prime Minister Kasymaliyev ordered the Ministry of Education to accelerate development, preparation, and publication of textbooks and to strengthen delivery coordination.

Free Textbook Sales Investigation

The meeting again raised the issue of textbooks intended for free distribution being sold on markets. Kasymaliyev said law enforcement agencies are conducting an inspection and strict measures will follow. Earlier, deputy Dastan Bekeshev bought a third-grade math textbook at Dordoi market for 650 soms; the book, printed by Uchkun, carried a 'Not for sale' mark. The prime minister then ordered the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Committee for National Security, and the Ministry of Education to determine how such textbooks reached open sale and to reconcile printed, transferred, and distributed quantities with state orders. Uchkun later reported selling textbooks worth 23 million soms, claiming it sold to end buyers upon their requests and considered such sales lawful.

Tracking and Funding Measures

Amid the investigation, the Ministry of Education and Uchkun proposed marking textbooks with QR or barcodes to track their movement from printing house to specific school and class. Kasymaliyev said that by the president's decision, necessary funds will be allocated for providing schoolchildren with textbooks, though the specific amount was not named. The Ministry of Education was instructed to attract necessary personnel, researchers, and experts, and to conduct monthly checks of school textbook availability.