The latest Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic enshrines free access to general and secondary education in public establishments. The Constitution specifies further that general basic education should be compulsory and vows to create conditions for teaching one state and one international language (Article 10) to every child in Kyrgyzstan (Council of Europe 2010). The Law on Education of 1992 (amended in 1997 and 2003) enunciates the national education policy, basic principles of education and conditions for functioning of the education system. The Law on the Status of Teachers of 2001 (amended in 2005 and 2009) defines the principles of state policy, regulates the legal, economic and social relations associated with the activities of teachers. Finally, the Law on Preschool Education of 2009 defines the basic principles of State policy on preschool education and child development, as well as the legal, institutional and financial framework of the preschool education system (IBE 2011).

The Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) is responsible for education policy and its implementation. The MoES has three education departments: preschool education, general secondary education, and higher and secondary professional education. Each province (oblast) and district (rayon) has a Department of Education. The Departments of Education of the provincial and district levels are responsible for administering pre-primary and basic education. Rural districts administer the education activities through providing learning materials and maintenance services directly to schools (IBE 2011). The MoES provides financing for higher and secondary professional education as well as boarding schools for children with disabilities and for gifted children.

Several institutions are involved in shaping educational policy in Kyrgyzstan. Under the MoES, the Kyrgyz Academy of Education (KAE) develops curricula, textbooks and other learning materials. The National Institute for Raising the Qualifications of Teacher and Teacher Training under the KAE coordinates the training of teachers and other educators in the system. At the province level (i.e. regions outside of Bishkek and Osh), training of teachers is administered by a network of seven Teacher Training Institutes. Primary vocational education (PVE) at the secondary school level falls under the mandate of the Department of Vocational Training and Education (DVTE) which is part of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, while secondary level vocational education is a responsibility of the MoES (IBE 2011).