Financing for equity in primary and secondary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to schools
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
In Kyrgyzstan, education financing operates under a centralised framework. The Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) is responsible for developing education policy, establishing funding norms, and administering the national education budget, while local governments and district education departments manage the execution of school-level expenditures.
The 2023 Education Law obliges the state to ensure the efficient and targeted use of education funds. It specifies the sources of financing, including republican and local budgets, grants and donations, parental contributions, and other lawful income, and mandates that state educational institutions be funded according to per-student, per-class, and per-group standards from the republican budget.
Following adoption of the republican budget by Parliament and its execution by the Ministry of Finance (MoF), funds are channelled to the MoES for centrally managed programmes and to local budgets through intergovernmental transfers to cover local responsibilities. The MoES directly administers and funds central initiatives such as the provision of textbooks, ICT equipment, and targeted student support programmes. Funds for the repair, protection and purchase of necessary household items for state general educational institutions are also allocated from the state budget. Teacher salaries, representing the largest component of recurrent expenditure, are also financed and disbursed centrally by the MoES. Local district education offices, however, are responsible for the day-to-day administration of funds, including redistribution to schools, supervision of school directors, and coverage of routine operational costs such as utilities, heating, and minor infrastructure maintenance
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Per-Student Budget Norms
The Government Decree No. 843 (28 Dec 2017) approved “typical per-student budget norms (excluding utility costs)” for general education. These norms define a standardised per-student unit cost of education, calculated primarily on the basis of teacher salaries, instructional hours, textbooks and teaching materials, and other recurrent inputs normally financed from the republican budget. The norms are calculated by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in consultation with the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) and approved by the Government. The decree established a path to fully fund these norms by 2021, with district education offices allowed to top up to 30 per cent for schools facing financial risks.
Equalisation Transfer
The main equity lever in intergovernmental finance is the equalisation transfer, an unconditional, formula-based grant from the republican budget designed to bridge the gap between a locality’s revenue capacity and its expenditure needs. Cabinet Resolution No. 315 specifies that equalisation funds are prioritised for “protected items,” including school utilities, fuel, and other protected operating costs, thereby supporting local education obligations that fall outside the per-student norm.
Currently, there is no evidence of a dedicated equity-oriented formula used specifically for allocating education resources to subnational governments.
2. Education resources to schools
Special Education
Since 2002, legislation has regulated a comprehensive support system for children with disabilities, covering prevention, education, and vocational training. Special education in Kyrgyzstan is legally guaranteed under the 2023 Education Law, which affirms the right of children with special educational needs to access education through either mainstream or specialised institutions.
In line with this framework, the government operates 14 residential special schools dedicated to children with sensory, intellectual, and psychosocial disabilities. Established as early as 1934, these institutions provide tailored educational services, accommodation, and basic needs. They are fully funded by the state budget.
Special schools are funded through separate budget lines in the republican budget. While exact funding information for these institutions is not publicly available, budget data for the Sokuluk special boarding school for children with speech impairments, for example, indicates that they receive funds from the republican budget.
Enhancing the resilience of children to climate and disaster risks
Implemented by UNICEF in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan, with financial support from the Government of Japan, it aims to strengthen schoolchildren’s knowledge and practical skills for safe behavior during emergencies by integrating disaster risk reduction education into schools nationwide. The programme reached around one million students in approximately 1,800 schools through teacher training, emergency drills, and school level preparedness planning, and contributed to improving institutional capacity for school safety and emergency response across the basic education system.
3. Education resources to students and families
Inclusive Education and Voucher Mechanism
Under the 2023 Education Law, the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) is responsible for setting policy, standards, and financing procedures, while direct services to school-age children are legally assigned to local governments. This includes additional local-budget support for children with special educational needs and those in difficult life situations (Art. 14(2)(5)) and the organisation of school transport (Art. 14(2)(6)). The inclusive-education chapter establishes a voucher financing mechanism for learners with special educational needs (SEN), applying higher coefficients for these learners. It also requires the MoES to organise independent assessments and provide parent advisory services, while the State is obliged to ensure special educational conditions and assistive means (Arts. 36–38).
Students are required to pay fees to the school for the use of textbooks. However, a 50-100% discount may be provided to families with 3 or more pupils in the house or for children whose parents were veterans
4. Social policies and family support programmes
As of 2025, there is no publicly available evidence of any social programme directly supporting disadvantaged students.
5. School meal programmes
Since 2006, the government has mandated the provision of school meals to primary school students (grades 1 to 4) in state and municipal schools across Kyrgyzstan. This legislation established the foundation for a universal school feeding system focused on primary education.
In 2019, the framework was reinforced through the enactment of a dedicated School Meals Law, which legally guarantees the right of every primary school student to safe and diverse meals. The law aims to reduce social inequality, promote healthy eating habits, ensure food safety and nutritional balance, and support the development of sustainable school catering infrastructure. Article 8 of the law specifies that the primary source of financing for school meals is the republican budget. International partners, including the World Food Programme and Mercy Corps, have supported the expansion of hot meals through optimisation programmes.
The meal programme follows national nutritional standards, incorporating fortified grains, diverse food groups, and the involvement of nutritionists engaged by donors. Cooks and caterers receive specialised training in nutrition, menu planning, hygiene, and food safety to achieve both nutritional and educational objectives.
