President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov recently commented on the decision to transfer driving schools to state management in an interview with the news agency "Kabar." He noted that this step is necessary to combat corruption schemes and improve the quality of driver training. According to Japarov, outdated methods contributed to an increase in traffic accidents and loss of human lives.
“I have instructed to restore order in this area. The reform has begun. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, there have been no significant changes in driver training and vehicle registration. Initially, this system was under the control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, then it was transferred to the Registration Service. However, despite the change in leadership, this sector became engulfed in corruption. Virtually everyone in leadership positions was involved in corrupt schemes,” the president stated.
“When we started the reform, we took over the issuance of license plates, driver's licenses, and technical passports, which were previously purchased abroad. There were critics who said it was impossible, but we succeeded. Now all information is collected in a single database, and the system is fully digitized. A lot of work has already been done, and now only driving schools remain in this chain,” he added.
— Is it possible to reform private driving schools without closing them?
— Unfortunately, many private driving schools did not prioritize quality driver training; their main goal was to make money. Citizens submitted documents, received certificates of completion, and then went to "Unaa" for driver's licenses without proper preparation, often without taking exams.
The existing corruption was combined with the work of the state institution "Unaa," which issues driver's licenses. Now we have brought the operations of this government agency in order, and graduates of private driving schools face real exams. Some students fail them 10-15 times because they did not receive proper education and training. Private driving schools only cared about the number of their clients. Now we have many young people who have licenses but cannot drive, claiming, "I'll learn when I buy a car."
According to Japarov, "In Kyrgyzstan, over 900 people die in accidents every year, and in some years this figure exceeds 1,000. This is a real tragedy. Even during wartime, so many people do not die. We are losing hundreds of lives just on the roads. The main reason for these accidents is corruption in the driver training system and the low quality of education. We must realize this."
— What are the advantages of state driving schools?
— State driving schools provide all the necessary conditions: a modern training base, new equipment, and qualified instructors. We print textbooks ourselves. Students receive comprehensive training covering vehicle management, technical maintenance, traffic rules, and, most importantly, road safety. Here, human life comes first, not profit. The safety of citizens is the main priority of the state.
— Private driving school owners complain about the closure of their businesses. How do you respond to this?
— We warned them in advance about the need for reforms. We said that from 2026, the licenses of private driving schools would be suspended. But many continued to operate as before, preferring to teach for only 10 days and issue certificates just to get money. The responsibility for driver training was pushed to the background. We will not leave employees of private driving schools without work — they will be transferred to state institutions.
— There are also complaints about the duration of training, claiming that 10 months is too long.
— This is misinformation aimed at protecting their business. They believe it will be expensive, and that 10 months is too long. In reality, the price will be reasonable. People talk about amounts of 100-150 thousand — that is not true. Anyone who gets behind the wheel is carrying their loved ones. Would you let your child drive if they are not ready?
— No, I would not do that.
— Do you understand how important the life and safety of your loved ones are? Private driving schools, prioritizing profit above all, issue certificates without properly training drivers. We care about the safety of every citizen, their knowledge, and experience on the road. A person receives a driver's license only once in their life, so it is better to study a little longer. This will protect not only your relatives but also other road users. Unfortunately, accidents often occur involving people who obtained licenses without proper training.
— Is it possible to include driving lessons in the school curriculum?
— Starting this September, schools will begin lessons on traffic rules. Our young people will learn the basics of safe driving right in school. Upon graduation, they will be able to go directly to the exam and, if they pass successfully, receive their driver's licenses. New state schools will also provide training for those who have already graduated from school.
Thus, I urge the public not to support those who try to create confusion for personal gain. Over time, everything will return to normal. This will take time.
