Limit of 3,000 students: why enrollment in the online school "Tunguch" will be restricted | 24.kg (KG)

Kyrgyzstan's first online school, "Tunguch," established in 2025, is set to cap its student intake at approximately 3,000. The school, operating in a pilot phase, offers education from the 5th to 11th grades in both Kyrgyz and Russian languages. It currently employs 50 teachers across 43 class sets. The initiative primarily aims to provide educational opportunities for children of labor migrants working abroad and for students with disabilities or those undergoing medical treatment.

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One such school will be enough. This is a forced measure for migrants who need inclusive education and are falling out of the usual educational process. We do not want to implement such a model en masse, because socialization, the formation of social tolerance, cohesion, it cannot replace.

Despite the school's capacity to accommodate students from over 15 countries, including Russia, China, and the United States, the Ministry of Education has stated that widespread online learning is not planned. Minister of Education Dogdurgul Kendirbaeva highlighted that online education cannot replace the socialization and social tolerance fostered in traditional school environments. The ministry views "Tunguch" as a necessary measure for specific groups who fall outside the regular educational process.

"Tunguch" has received over 2,500 applications, with about 300 rejected for not meeting the criteria. The school's director, Aisulu Zhamangulova, noted that some students might not receive certification due to poor academic performance, potentially requiring them to repeat a year. The ministry is considering requests to admit students from lower grades, acknowledging the challenges younger children may face with online platforms.

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But it won't work like that, children should learn in a normal environment. Therefore, if they meet the established criteria and have the appropriate certificates, they can study in an online school. If parents simply do not want to study in crowded classes, then they can find a more spacious school.

Kendirbaeva stressed that while artificial intelligence can assist educators, it cannot substitute the human element of teaching. The ministry's cautious approach to online education stems from the belief that children need to learn in a conventional setting. Enrollment in "Tunguch" will be prioritized for those who meet specific criteria, such as being children of labor migrants, rather than for parents seeking alternatives to crowded classrooms.

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Artificial intelligence will never replace a teacher (live communication, emotions, teamwork, discipline), but AI helps to ease the work of educators and reduce corruption.