In the fall of 2011, the three major universities in Osh – Osh State University, Osh Technical University, and the former Kyrgyz-Uzbek University, unofficially renamed Osh State Social University – are deeply embedded in national and regional political and educational contexts. They are affected by the Ministry of Education’s desire to enter “the world educational space” by shifting all universities in the country to a BA – MA and credit hour system starting in the 2012-2013 academic year, and by the imposition of minimum scores for contract (self-funded) as well as budget (government-funded) students on the National Scholarship Test. Rumors attribute the movement of rectors and the lack of official approval of Osh State Social University’s new name to the interests of various parties involved in the October presidential elections. Signs in Kyrgyz appear in places one might not expect. Political and educational issues are deeply interwoven, and respondents are understandably wary about being quoted. Making causal attributions in such a context is difficult at best.
Martha C. Merrill, of Kent State University, was a 2011-12 Short-Term Travel Grants (STG) [9] fellow.
