#183: Turkish Presence

The Economist had an article about the Gulen network around Kyrgyzstan. Very interesting piece. The articles says"'If you meet a polite Central Asian lad who speaks good English and Turkish, you know he went to a Gulen school,' says a Turkish observer. In Kyrgyzstan, for example, the movement runs a university and a dozen high schools, which excel in international contests.'

I know from personal experience that this network is very strong in Kyrgyzstan. Graduates of Turkish lyceums (boarding schools) and the Manas Kyrgyz-Turkish University - I had a post about the university's 12 millions construction project - were able to build a very close-knit community through charity, business, religious, and other associations.

In fact, there educational institutions were able to compensate for the collapsing education system around Kyrgyzstan. Their high school students have on average higher scores in standardized tests and do better in various competitions than students from public schools. My younger brother went to all-boys boarding school in Kyzylkia. A cousin studies in another one in Osh. Another cousin graduated from the Manas University. One thing, as the Economist pointed out, is that they instill religiosity and certain level of nationalism in their students. My cousin, who graduated from the Manas University, came out praying at least twice a day.