History of Osh State Pedagogical University

The modern Osh State Pedagogical University (OSPU) traces its origins back to 1925, when the first Osh Pedagogical College began operating in the southern region of Kyrgyzstan.
Its establishment was driven by the urgent need to train teaching personnel for the young republic.

The First Pedagogical Courses

To train teachers from among representatives of the local population, the People’s Commissariat of Education of the Turkestan Region decided on June 17, 1924, to open the first six-month pedagogical courses in the city of Osh.
By January 1, 1925, the courses had trained 18 Kyrgyz teachers for primary schools. The training was designed for 80 students, with the primary goal of preparing teachers for elementary schools and literacy centers.

Foundation of the Pedagogical College

According to archival data, Bazarkul Daniyarov played a significant role in the establishment of the Osh Pedagogical College.
He raised the issue of organizing a college on the basis of the existing pedagogical courses at a meeting of the Presidium of the Osh District Revolutionary Committee.
Recognizing his contribution, he was appointed a member of the commission responsible for founding the college.
His initiative was supported by the chairman of the Osh Revolutionary Committee, the prominent Kyrgyz statesman Dali Zulphibayev.
As a result, by Resolution No. 14 of the Osh District Revolutionary Committee dated January 15, 1925, a one-year Pedagogical College was officially opened.

Excerpt from Resolution No. 14 of the Presidium of the Osh District Revolutionary Committee (January 15, 1925):

To replace the pedagogical courses, organize a one-year Pedagogical College designed for 120 students, aimed at preparing qualified teaching staff for schools.
Considering the importance of the Pedagogical College in educating the Kara-Kyrgyz working peasants, the organization and funding of the college shall be transferred to the regional budget.
Head of the Administrative and Political Department of the Osh District Revolutionary Committee.
(National Archives of the Kyrgyz Republic, Fund 647, Op. 1–16)

Development and Early Challenges

As recorded in the History of the Kyrgyz SSR published in 1986,

“At the beginning of 1925, on the basis of the six-month courses in Osh, a one-year Pedagogical College was organized, and in September of the same year the duration of study was extended to three years.”
These data confirm that the Osh Pedagogical College was one of the first educational institutions in Kyrgyzstan.

During its early years, the college faced numerous difficulties — budget shortages, weak material resources, and a lack of qualified specialists.
By 1927, there were 8 classrooms operating in two shifts. A two-room dormitory housed 15 students, while others lived in rented accommodations.
Because the educational process was often unstable, teachers performed various additional duties.
The teaching staff was ethnically diverse, including: S. Kurmanov and B. Daniyarov (Kyrgyz), Garifzhanov, S. Salikhov, Khabibulin (Tatars), Kh. Ismailova (Lezgin), A. Rakhimov (Uyghur), Derkenbayev (Kyrgyz), among others.

The First Russian Language Teacher in Osh

Many teachers of that period received their education in Moscow, Tashkent, and Almaty.
In the 1920s and 1930s, providing the newly formed national republics with qualified professionals was a major priority of the Party and the Soviet state.
Highly trained specialists were sent from central regions of Russia to the national republics, including Kyrgyzstan.

One of them was Khabirokhanum Ismailova, a Lezgin by nationality, who began her career in 1926 as a teacher of Russian language and literature at the Osh Pedagogical College.
She was among those sent to Central Asia to help train local cadres.

The renowned Kyrgyz national poet and veteran of the Great Patriotic War Temirkul Ümötaliev recalled:

“Many students studied under Khabirokhanum Ismailova — among them were Joomart Bökönbaev, Tölön Shamshiev, and myself.
Many of her students later became well-known teachers and war heroes of our republic.”

For her many years of dedicated work, Khabirokhanum Ismailova was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, several medals, and honorary diplomas.
In 1945, she received the honorary title of Honored Teacher of the Schools of the Kyrgyz SSR.
Ümötaliev’s writings once again confirm that the Osh Pedagogical College was founded in 1925.

Relocation to Jalal-Abad

In the late 1920s, regional reforms were implemented in the republic, taking into account national and economic interests.
In 1928, the canton system was abolished and replaced by districts.
By the decision of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People’s Commissars of the Kyrgyz ASSR, the Osh and Jalal-Abad districts were merged to form the Osh District.
This change directly affected the activity of the college — in the same year, the Osh Pedagogical College was relocated to Jalal-Abad.
Students who had not completed their studies in Osh continued their education in the new location.
Within a short time, the college trained about 300 teachers for the southern region of the country.

Transformation into a College, Institute, and University

In 1994, the Osh Pedagogical College was reorganized into the Osh Pedagogical College, and in 1996 it became the Osh Higher College.
These transformations elevated the level of education and expanded the preparation of qualified specialists for schools, vocational institutions, and universities.

In 2002, by Government Decree No. 316, the college was granted the status of Osh Humanitarian-Pedagogical Institute.
Due to the creative attitude of the teaching staff, academic quality, and strong leadership, the institute gained a high reputation, paving the way for its transformation into a university.

Recognizing its successful operation under modern conditions, contribution to national education, and positive role in the country’s socio-political life, by Order No. 368/1 of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic dated April 5, 2021, the institute was granted the status of Osh State Pedagogical University.

The Modern Stage

As a result of systematic reforms in recent years, the OSPU has evolved into a modern, multi-disciplinary, scientific-educational and cultural institution with extensive experience in international cooperation.

The university has successfully developed and implemented an effective economic model that ensures sustainable operation under competitive conditions.
Drawing upon a century of educational traditions, OSPU today enjoys a strong reputation among the country’s higher education institutions as a leading center for pedagogical training.

At present, the university includes:

  • 6 faculties,

  • 1 college,

  • 1 preschool educational institution,

  • postgraduate and master’s programs.

Approximately 400 faculty members work at the university, and 13,446 students are enrolled.
Over 100 children are educated at the preschool division.
The university is headed by Professor Bekmurza Bekbolotovich Zuluev, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences.

The historical information was compiled in 2015 by the late Tursun Abzhalov, Candidate of Historical Sciences and Associate Professor.