Strategic Priorities and Development Prospects of Initial and Secondary Vocational Education and Training in the Kyrgyz Republic

Abstract The article is devoted to the analysis of strategic directions for modernizing the vocational education system of the Kyrgyz Republic in the context of global transformations and national priorities of socio-economic development. The institutional foundations of initial (IVET) and secondary vocational education and training (SVET), and their role in training qualified personnel and ensuring the sustainability of the national labor market are examined. Special attention is given to issues of digital transformation, the development of dual and practice-oriented training, the introduction of inclusive practices, and the formation of green competencies. The paper summarizes the experience of the Republican Scientific and Methodological Center (RSMC) as a key institution for methodological and innovative support of the IVE and SVE system. International initiatives and partnerships (WorldSkills, Luban Workshop, SCO and UNESCO programs) are analyzed, which ensure the integration of the national system into the global educational space and the formation of comparable qualification standards. It is concluded that vocational education in Kyrgyzstan serves as a strategic resource for sustainable development and requires consistent strengthening of the institutional framework, expansion of cooperation with employers, and improvement of the quality of training specialists in accordance with the challenges of the digital and “green” economy.