It is aleady over 15 years since Soviet Union started to disintegrate, leaving behind eight new independent states in Central Asia and in the Caucasus.

The republics gaining independence in 1991 believed they got it for real. But the reality shows that no country can live on its own, there is always the need for some integration with other countries and most choose to be an ally with someone anyway.

The ties of the Central Asian countries to Russia are obvious. Not only did the Russian culture leave a deep mark on all Central Asian societies due to centuries of a ‘mutual’ history, the migration flow back and forth is also a reminder that there is still a lot of interaction between the two entities.

In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan you wouldn’t get lost if you spoke only Russian and the schools on every level function mostly in Russian. However, there is usually some alternative to study the subjects in our native languages.

But the question is: How much is it worth to study in our language in order to become a good specialist in one profession. What kind of schools are there for the citizens of the region?

There are of course private schools that may offer a varied number of subjects, but I really wonder what kind of problems are solved by the ministries of education in the countries of Central Asia, when it is quite unclear what kind of educational system the countries follow. So, what is it with the Russian influence?

In public we still speak Russian. English is not available for the majority of the population since it needs, besides a strong commitment, money to learn it.

So, is going to Russia for education the way forward for citizens of Central Asia in order to catch up with advanced subjects. Can they become best specialized in the field like that?

What can the Russian educational system offer to Central Asian citizens studying in Russia?

I believe they still offer the Soviet way of passing the exams, putting grades on “zachotka,” and learning most of the assignments by heart. Is this a really effective way of accumulating knowledge? This what we had at schools in the Soviet Union and for most still have at higher education institutions.

For sure, it is quite costly to study in an English-speaking institution, most of which are obviously abroad.

Could Central Asian citizens face an alternative to that in the East, in rapidly developing China? I believe it is not available over there since the “Chinese Wall” is still in place, by which the Chinese want to protect themselves from outsiders. It is clear so far that China is not going to be open to share the knowledge they possess.

Then, can we develop our own standards of education and not further rely on any other systems? What can the citizens of Central Asia do in order to understand that educational system is by and large ignored due to issues like oil and gas?

But isn’t it dangerous if only some people can afford to get the best education on how to sell oil and gas while the rest remains with a mediocre understanding of the issues at stake, mostly due to an unreformed education system?