Erkebaev Tajimamat, vice-rector for vocational secondary education of Osh State University:

- Let's start talking about the special status recently granted to the educational institution, what has changed in OshSU after receiving this status?

- As you know, among the five universities in our country, special status was given to OshSU. The university first gained academic independence. Curriculums prepared by the Ministry, standard programs for subjects are no longer imposed on the training of specialists. The educational institution decides independently which subject to teach and how much. It is determined by the Educational Methodological Association of the university. Second, it gained financial independence. Previously, the amount of spending on each item was measured by the government, but now this is also given to the university itself. Thirdly, administrative freedom. This does not mean that freedoms can be kept at will. Each issue is discussed and accepted in the Administrative and Academic Council based on the analysis of specialists. The state, while giving us freedoms, has given us great duties and responsibilities. In particular, bringing OshSU to the world ranking has become our main goal and task.

- What news is happening in the field of vocational secondary education?

- To be honest, the field of vocational secondary education has been considered as a secondary issue until now. This is because, as an educational institution for training highly educated specialists, colleges were part of faculties, and more attention was paid to master's and bachelor's degrees. Starting from 2021, secondary professional education was completely removed from the composition of faculties, and 6 independent colleges were created. Today, more than twelve thousand students study in our colleges.

- What are the advantages of college education over school?

- There are many advantages. On the one hand, the student will acquire a secondary profession, and on the other hand, he will develop independence earlier. A student learns to live independently and make decisions from the moment he arrives at the university. For example, a student who has completed the 11th grade and a student who has graduated from our college have a sharp difference in their studies at a higher education institution. This is because those who graduate from college acquire extensive knowledge and qualifications in that specialty. Parents and students have also realized this advantage, as the number of college admissions is increasing day by day. For example, three years ago there were about four thousand students, but now there are more than 12 thousand.

- After graduating from college, is it possible to work or must one study at a bachelor's or master's degree?

- This, of course, depends on the student's own choice. Some fields definitely require a higher education. In order to work there, he will definitely need to continue his studies at the university. However, there are a number of positions that can be used even with a diploma of vocational secondary education in every institution - enterprise. About forty percent of our graduates are employed.

- Which fields do they usually work in?

- I would like to mention one interesting situation, private enterprises are interested in our graduates. For example, the banks themselves come to us and invite our students to practice, and then hire the best ones. However, it can be seen that such a trend is a little sluggish in state-owned enterprises. Therefore, we can conclude that private enterprises are more interested in promoting their work than state institutions.

- In which branches of state enterprises do graduates go to work more often?

- Especially the village governments invited our graduates. Creating computer programs, collecting databases, etc., state agencies are in great need of specialists who can work in this area.

- How many specialties do you train in colleges?

- We train specialists in 36 areas. All these are specialties that require time. Now our people have understood that they don't apply for useless specialties. Preschool teachers, primary school teachers, translators and English language teachers in primary schools are in high demand. In the second place, there are many people who are interested in medical college.

- You said that you have six colleges, what news is happening in them?

- Every college works tirelessly to keep up with the times. Industrial and Pedagogical College participated in the competition announced by the Asian Development Bank and won a one million dollar grant. We recently opened and started work. After that, work on projects in the medical college is also in full swing. In 4 medical colleges across the country, the specialty of physical therapy has been opened and training has begun. This year, starting from the new school year, applicants for this specialty were accepted in the 9th grade base, and they began to be taught on the basis of European curricula. Our graduates have the opportunity to work in Europe. They can provide medical services as well as social work. Also, experimental groups were opened in medical colleges in Osh and Ozgen, which will be taught according to European standards. There are 27 medical colleges in Kyrgyzstan. The association that unites them is chaired by the director of our Özgen Medical College Ozgenbay Tilebaevich. This is of course the best practice. gives a great opportunity to participate in international projects. Also, our financial and legal college is a member of the association of all educational institutions in Southern Kyrgyzstan for the training of economic specialists. This organization is also headed by Isakov Nurgazy Zholbolduyevich, director of our Financial and Legal College. The College of International Education Programs also works closely with the United Kingdom Association of Educational Institutions. In other words, they introduce England's program as an experiment. Recently, two teachers visited Great Britain and exchanged experiences.

- Are the conditions for quality education of students created at a sufficient level?

- Of course, first of all, we will work in this direction. Since it is new, there are some problems. For example, the innovative STEM college needs a separate building, construction work on which will soon begin.

- The 12th Vocational Lyceum was recently transferred to OshSU, what news is happening in this educational institution?

- There is a lot of work going on here. Hopefully, a start-up center is being created there. The construction of a building for the STEM college and moving to that location has begun. The university's internet server will also be located there, and work is underway to turn it into a leading center for information technology.

- What is the state of scientific and pedagogical degree and level of teachers?

- There is a full opportunity to say that our colleges have the best level of scientific potential because they are located on the basis of Osh State University. On average, 10 percent of the teaching staff have a scientific degree. Colleges are not required to have faculty members with academic degrees. Despite this, our teachers are actively engaged in scientific work. This in turn creates enthusiasm among students.

- At the end of our speech, let's give an opportunity to appeal to applicants, parents, why is it useful to study at a college of OshSU?

- I said at the beginning of my speech that our people have become wiser in many ways. The eyes of most of our youth have been opened in terms of choosing the specialties required by the time and using time properly. That is why the number of people choosing our colleges is increasing. For example, if you finish the ninth grade, we teach the program of the 10th-11th grade in one year. In the second year, they study in a specialty. Students who want to get a higher education can automatically continue their studies in the second year in the higher education institution of their chosen specialty after graduating from college. If he wants to study abroad, he will sit in the third year. Then our college graduates will graduate a year or two earlier than their peers, and gain time.

- Will your graduates be admitted to the bachelor's program without passing the GRT?

- If he has chosen the faculty of his specialty, he will not apply for the GRT, but if he has chosen another specialty, then he will apply. That's why you need to choose the right specialty when you enter college, so you can continue with bachelor's and master's degrees.

- Thank you for your time. Wish you more success.

- Thanks to you too.