Kyrgyzstan ends paper trail as schools turn digital

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (MNTV) — Kyrgyzstan will phase out paper-based student records in its schools starting in the 2025–2026 academic year, marking a significant step toward nationwide digitalization of the education system.

The move, announced by Deputy Minister of Education Lira Samykbaeva at a recent education forum, includes the complete discontinuation of traditional paper diaries and “red journals”—the ”country’s long-used tools for tracking grades and attendance.

According to Samykbaeva, the transition has been made possible by extensive digital reforms across the education sector. Today, 90% of student data has already been digitized, including demographic profiles, social status, academic performance, and attendance.

“From now on, everything from grading to parent communication will take place online,” Samykbaeva said. “This isn’t just about replacing paper — it’s a new approach to education management.”

All schools will now use Kundoluk, a national digital platform designed for education administration, along with other integrated tools. The system allows parents to view grades, assignments, class schedules, and digital textbooks in real time, offering a level of access and transparency not previously possible.

For educators, the platform streamlines lesson planning, grading, and attendance tracking. School administrators will be able to analyze student data and monitor educational performance at both local and national levels.

The digital shift also includes a new infrastructure module, where schools can input detailed information about buildings, classroom capacity, furniture, and equipment.

Officials say this data will be used to better plan budgets, target investments, and identify areas where new schools may be needed due to overcrowding.

The education ministry views the reform as a long-term effort to modernize the country’s education management, improve resource allocation, and promote equity in access to learning tools.