UCA Strengthens Educational Opportunities in Talas

UCA’s Institute of Public Policy and Administration (IPPA) has successfully completed the Teacher Professional Development and Preparation of School Graduates for the National Testing (ORT) project, expanding access to teacher training and university preparation for students in rural schools across Talas Region.

The initiative was implemented in partnership with the Bilimland Public Association and UCA’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE), with financial support from Altyn Alliance LLC.

From November 2025 to April 2026, the project reached 48 Kyrgyz-language rural schools across Talas Region. A total of 120 mathematics and Kyrgyz language teachers received professional development, with 40 teachers from 20 schools subsequently providing intensive preparation for graduating students taking the National Testing (ORT).

Supporting Teachers, Expanding Opportunities

The project focused exclusively on Kyrgyz-language rural schools, where students can face greater barriers to accessing high-quality examination preparation. By strengthening teachers’ subject knowledge, teaching methodologies and preparation skills, the initiative aimed to create a sustainable model of support that benefits both educators and students.

Improved ORT performance can significantly expand graduates’ opportunities to pursue higher and vocational education, including access to state-funded university scholarships. For students in rural communities, stronger preparation can therefore be an important step towards accessing educational opportunities beyond their local areas.

The 2026 ORT results showed encouraging improvements across the region. Participation increased from 69.1% to 75.2%, while the average regional score rose from 126.1 to 127.6. The number of students achieving scores above 200 points increased from 20 to 63. More than half of the participating schools improved their average ORT scores, with several schools recording increases of more than 20 points.

These results demonstrate how targeted investment in teachers can contribute to improved student outcomes while building longer-term capacity within rural schools.

Building Partnerships for Rural Education

The project brought together academic, private-sector and regional education partners around a shared goal of strengthening educational opportunities for young people in Talas.

After the project conclusion, representatives of the Talas Regional State Administration, district education departments, Altyn Alliance LLC, Bilimland and UCA IPPA’s met to review the project’s results and discuss opportunities for continued cooperation.

Participants highlighted the importance of sustained investment in teacher professional development and the need to expand methodological support for rural schools. The discussion also explored ways to build on the project's results and strengthen collaboration between education authorities, schools, businesses and academic institutions.