Kyrgyzstan Introduces "From Village to Future" Program for Rural Youth Education

Kyrgyzstan is rolling out a new regional educational initiative, "From Village to Future" (Ayldan Kelechekke), aimed at empowering rural youth. President Sadyr Жапаров issued a decree to establish the program, which seeks to foster regional development and ensure equitable access to higher education for students from rural areas. Under the program, a minimum of five high school graduates from rural areas will receive financial support each year. These students must achieve scores at or above the established threshold in the national standardized tests (ORT). Funding for their university studies, on a contract basis, will be provided through regional development funds. The minimum ORT scores required for admission to Kyrgyz universities in 2026 are set at 110 points for the main test and 60 points for the subject-specific test. This program directly addresses the need to bolster the country's human capital by nurturing talent from all regions. "From Village to Future" is designed not only to provide opportunities for individual students but also to strengthen the overall human resource capacity within Kyrgyzstan's regions. By investing in rural education, the government hopes to encourage skilled individuals to contribute to their local communities and national development.