The main reason for the appeal was the proposal to relocate the educational institution to the village of Tash-Dobo. Currently, the school is located at: Kulatov Street, 37.
Iskender Sultanaliyev, a parent of a student, reported that in December he learned about plans to relocate, which are related to the construction of a new complex for children with autism, deafness, and blindness.
He noted that such a decision contradicts international standards and laws concerning persons with disabilities, as well as the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, which prohibits discrimination based on disability. "Being in the city center, the school provides convenience for children and their parents. If it is relocated, it will create additional difficulties for children, who may stop attending various courses and lose contact with society," he said, adding that he has two daughters who study at this school.
Tobokel kyzy Kauhar, another parent, stated that after receiving information about the relocation, parents sent appeals to the president, the head of the Cabinet, as well as to the Ministries of Education and Construction.
"The responses did not satisfy us. When the Prime Minister visited the school on January 22, I expressed my disagreement with the relocation on behalf of the parents. It is very far, and it will be difficult for the children, considering their medical diagnoses. On February 3, at a meeting with the Minister of Education and other officials, we reiterated our opinion. The Minister assured that the school would remain in place, but later in a conversation with journalists stated that no final decision had been made yet," she recounted.
Sadyrbek Jamankulov, a resident of Talas, also spoke on this issue, noting that his child studies at this boarding school. "I visit him every week and spend weekends together. I have five children, four of whom live in Talas. I am against the relocation, as there are many parents like me," he specified.
Gulzada Mamieva, a first-group disabled person and a graduate of this school, emphasized that the institution educates not only blind children but also those with cerebral palsy and autism. "The school provides not only education but also a safe environment. I am a single mother, and my two children study here. We are against the isolation of children," she said.
Educator Bekbolsun Alymbaev added that the school staff is also against the relocation. He himself is a second-group disabled person.
He noted that there is much misinformation about the school, such as the claim that it was founded in 1939. "In fact, it was originally located near the 'Dostuk' hotel and had only 9 students with visual impairments. Only in 1957 did the school separate and move to Kulatov. The area of the school is not 70 but 92 hundredths, and half of the territory is vacant," the educator reported.
In his opinion, such educational institutions should be located in the center, as is done in other countries like Russia and the USA. "Children need socialization and the ability to navigate their surroundings. If the school is moved out of town, how will they learn to cross streets? They need to be able to use traffic lights and move independently," he added.
The educator also called for keeping the school in its current location and building a new building for the boarding school.
He noted that the specifics of working with children with various forms of disabilities differ, and it is wrong to combine them in one educational institution. "It's like combining a 'Mercedes' and a 'BMW.' The rights of children and parents are being violated," he emphasized.
Elvira Orozalieva, an educator, reported that the school educates 220 children, of whom 176 receive education under the general education program, while 44 are in correctional classes. "The information that 14 children live in one room is not true. Rooms accommodate from 4 to 12 children. There are also employees with visual disabilities among the staff who may lose their jobs if the relocation occurs," she added.
Parents also shared that they moved to apartments near the school for the convenience of their children's education.
Representatives of the parents and the school staff are asking the president and the head of the State National Security Committee to pay attention to this issue and find a solution.
