Kyrgyzstan Education

Kyrgyzstan, also known as Kirghizia, independent republic in Central Asia, bordered on the north by Kazakhstan, on the east by China, on the south by China and Tajikistan, and on the west by Uzbekistan. It was formerly the Kirgiz Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The area of Kyrgyzstan is almost completely mountainous and is subject to major earthquakes. Settlement and agriculture are concentrated in the river valleys. Total area is 198,500 sq km (76,641 sq mi). Bishkek (formerly Frunze) is the capital and largest city.

Land and Resources
Kyrgyzstan is located at the juncture of two great Central Asian mountain systems—the Tien Shan and the PamirsThe two systems are composed of a series of mountain chains that run mainly east to west. The republic contains the second highest peak in the former USSR, Peak Pobedy (Russian for “victory”), which has an elevation of 7439 m (about 24,406 ft). More than half of the republic's territory lies at an elevation higher than 2500 m (about 8200 ft), and only about one-eighth of Kyrgyzstan is lower than 1500 m (about 4920 ft). Glaciers and permanent snow fields cover more than 3 percent of total land area. Climate is continental, with much variation in climatic conditions. Average daily temperature in the valleys is 25 to 27° C (77 to 80.6° F) in July, and -4° C (24.8° F) in January. Conditions are much colder at higher elevations.
More than half of the country is drained by the Naryn River and other tributaries of the Syr Darya River. Numerous small and medium-sized rivers drain northern Kyrgyzstan and dissipate into the deserts and semideserts of southern Kazakhstan. Lake Ysyk-Kol, the largest of the republic's many lakes and the fourth-deepest lake in the world, is located at about 1.6 km (about 1 mi) above sea level. Steppe and alpine vegetation predominate, and forests occupy 3.5 percent of the total area. Only 7 percent of total land resources is arable. The republic is home to many rare animal species, including the Tien Shan bear, the red wolf, and the snow leopard, which are protected by government decree.

Population
With less than 40 percent of its population (about 4,421,000 in 1991) living in urban areas, Kyrgyzstan is the second least urbanized republic in the former USSR. Population is clustered in two principal areas: in the Fergana Valley in the republic's southwest, and along the Chu River in the north. The two largest cities are Bishkek, the capital (population, 1990 estimate, 625,000), located on the Chu River, and Osh (218,000), located in the Fergana Valley. The Kyrgyz are followers of Islam who speak a Turkic language and constitute a majority of the population with 52 percent. Russians, who live principally in Bishkek and other industrial centers, are the largest minority with 22 percent of the population. Uzbeks live primarily in the Fergana Valley and constitute 13 percent of the population. Large numbers of Ukrainians, Germans, and Tatars also live in the republic. Disagreement between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz over access to land and housing in the vicinity of Osh sparked violent clashes in 1990 that left over 230 people dead. Relations between the two sides remain tense.

Economy
Formerly based almost exclusively on agriculture, the Kyrgyz economy underwent extensive industrialization during the Soviet period. Industry now contributes about 38 percent of total gross domestic product (GDP) and accounts for 28 percent of total employment. Mineral extraction and its supporting activities constitute the bulk of industrial activities. Kyrgyzstan has vast mineral resources, including extensive deposits of coal, gold, antimony, and uranium. Deposits of oil and natural gas have been found in the Fergana Valley, but the republic is still highly dependent on fuel imports. The Naryn and Chu rivers are used for hydroelectric power, although considerable hydroelectric potential remains undeveloped. The manufacturing base is limited primarily to processing agricultural products, such as wool, meat, and leather.
Agriculture is still a very important sector of the republic's economy. It accounts for 28.4 percent of total GDP and nearly one-third of total employment. Livestock raising, especially of horses, sheep, and cattle, remains the dominant agricultural occupation. Extensive irrigation permits the production of cotton, grain, and fruit at lower elevations. Other agricultural crops include tobacco, silk, and opium poppies.
Kyrgyzstan, widely seen as the leader in economic reform among former Soviet republics in Central Asia, has experienced economic stagnation since independence. GDP dropped by about 25 percent in 1992, with an even greater proportional decline in coal and gas output. The government has resorted to issuing Soviet-style production targets for the energy sector in order to combat the drop in production.
Market reforms are proceeding despite the economic crisis. Ethnic distrust has slowed the privatization of land, but a legislative compromise on land allocation has been reached. The Kyrgyz government has also proceeded with currency reform. Kyrgyzstan became the first former Soviet republic in Central Asia to introduce its own currency, the som, in 1993. The introduction of the som violated rules established by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and was opposed by leaders in several neighboring states. In January 1994 Kyrgyzstan joined a free trade zone established by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Government
Although Kyrgyzstan is considered one of the bastions of democracy in Central Asia—the Communist party is outlawed here—its governmental system has retained several aspects of the old Soviet-era system. The national legislature is still called the Supreme Soviet, and it is dominated by ex-Communist officials, most of whom attained their seats through uncontested elections in 1990.Askar Akayev, the president, is the only head of state in Central Asia who never served in the Communist party apparatus; however, he also took office after winning an uncontested election in 1991. Since becoming president, Akayev has acquired extensive powers, including the right to appoint and dismiss government officials. Akayev has abolished the old system of local soviets (councils) and instituted a new gubernatorial system that allows him direct control over local affairs. Friction has developed between Akayev and a coalition of opposition groups over foreign policy, the allocation of political power, and land privatization. Akayev is a strong supporter of the CIS. Kyrgyzstan has been a CIS member since 1991.

History
In about the 16th century the Kyrgyz people migrated west to settle in the area that is now Kyrgyzstan. The region was conquered by the Oirots, a Mongolian people, in the late 17th century and came under the Kokand khanate in the 19th century. The first Russian penetration of the region took place in 1855, and in 1876 czarist forces defeated the khanate and incorporated present-day Kyrgyzstan into the Russian Empire. Until the Russian Revolution of 1917, the area was ruled as part of Turkestan Kray (Russian for “province”). In 1916 many Kyrgyz and other Central Asian peoples revolted against Russian rule. The czarist regime responded with force, which caused many Kyrgyz to seek refuge across the border in China.
After the Russian Revolution, the Kyrgyz resisted but were defeated by Bolshevik forces. In 1921 the area became part of the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR)—which also included portions of present-day Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—within the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic (RSFSR). In 1924 the area became the Kara-Kirgiz Autonomous Oblast (AO) of the Kirgiz ASSR within the RSFSR. Its name was changed to the Kirgiz AO in 1925. In 1926 it was upgraded to an autonomous republic, and it became a full-fledged constituent republic of the USSR in 1936.
Beginning in the late 1920s, the republic experienced extreme cultural and political repression, saw the influx of Russians and other peoples in large numbers, and underwent large-scale industrialization. The collapse of Communism in the USSR in 1991 led to the republic's independence as Kyrgyzstan. It joined the United Nations in 1992.