Kyrgyzstan: Over 2,000 first-grade school places remain in Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan is preparing to welcome 126,000 children into first grade for the 2026/2027 academic year, with the figure increasing by 2,300 in the past week. In the capital city, Bishkek, approximately 24,200 children have registered for first grade. Of these, 12,900 have been placed in Kyrgyz-language classes and over 11,300 in Russian-language classes.

Despite the high enrollment numbers, Bishkek still has about 2,200 vacant spots for first-graders. Specifically, 992 places are available in Russian-language classes and 1,200 in Kyrgyz-language classes. Across the entire country, the total number of available first-grade places stands at 193,300, with 67,300 remaining unfilled.

Online registration, which began on April 1, initially prioritized school catchment areas. Currently, registration is open to children regardless of their place of residence, but only at schools with remaining vacancies. The registration period will extend through August. Children born in 2019 and 2020 are eligible for admission.