Policymakers, educators, and international experts gathered at the National Forum on Multilingual Education to discuss the future of multilingual education in Kyrgyzstan. Organized by the Ministry of Education with support from the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, the forum aimed to explore policy avenues for enhancing and expanding multilingual education in the country.
Multilingual education is seen as a vital tool for promoting integration in diverse societies while ensuring educational excellence. The approach emphasizes starting education in a child’s mother tongue before gradually introducing additional languages. This method not only supports academic proficiency in the mother tongue but also contributes significantly to overall educational success.
“Multilingual education is one of the most effective ways to foster integration in our diverse societies. It is not just an educational approach that generates excellent results in the classroom; it is also a powerful tool to increase social cohesion, cultural understanding, and economic opportunity,” stated Ambassador Marek Szczygiel, Director and Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, in an online address.
Participants discussed how to adapt international best practices from countries like Singapore and Mongolia for implementation in Kyrgyzstan. The forum also featured the presentation of a draft roadmap for multilingual education for 2025 to 2030, aimed at ensuring quality and inclusive education nationwide.
The National Forum concluded a series of activities throughout October, known as the “Month of Multilingual Education.” This initiative included events focused on learning the Kyrgyz language through multilingual education and a study tour for members of parliament and government officials. Supported by the OSCE High Commissioner’s office, the tour included visits to schools and kindergartens in the Osh and Chuy regions, where participants witnessed firsthand the benefits of multilingual education.
“Seeing children interact and learn in multiple languages is truly inspiring. It shows us that multilingual education is not just an abstract policy but a real opportunity to empower the next generation to embrace diversity and thrive together,” remarked Aigul Omorova, a lecturer at the Republican Institute for Advanced Training and Retraining of Teaching Staff.
The OSCE High Commissioner’s office remains committed to supporting Kyrgyzstan in developing an education system that not only achieves academic excellence but also strengthens social cohesion by embracing the country’s rich linguistic diversity.
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