Article 6 - Education and Religion

1. Access to various types and levels of the education system of the Kyrgyz Republic is provided to individuals regardless of their attitude to religion. 2. The establishment of religious organizations in organizations of the education system of the Kyrgyz Republic is not allowed. 3. The central governing body of religious organizations, in accordance with its charter and in the manner established by this Law, has the right to create and maintain religious educational institutions financed from its own funds for the training of clergy and the religious personnel it needs. A religious educational institution is not included in the education system of the Kyrgyz Republic in accordance with the legislation on education. 4. Religious education is carried out in the form of professional special religious (spiritual) education and short-term religious courses for adults and minors. Special religious (spiritual) education is implemented by religious educational institutions on the basis of training programs approved by the founder(s), the content of which has been approved by a positive conclusion of the religious studies expert review of the authorized state body for religious affairs. Short-term religious courses for adults are implemented by both religious educational institutions and religious organizations on the basis of training programs approved by the founder(s) of the religious educational institution, the central governing body of religious organizations and the relevant bodies of religious organizations, the content of which has been approved by a positive conclusion of the religious studies expert review of the authorized state body for religious affairs. Short-term religious courses for minors are implemented outside of school hours according to additional education programs in the manner established by the legislation on education. 5. Citizens are admitted to higher and secondary religious educational institutions after receiving compulsory education in accordance with the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic. The inclusion of a minimum set of general education subjects in the educational programs of religious educational institutions is mandatory and is carried out in agreement with the authorized state bodies in the field of education and religious affairs. 6. Persons teaching religious subjects in religious educational institutions must have a special secondary and higher religious (spiritual) education, certified by an appropriate document, and carry out their activities in agreement with the central governing body of the religious organization to which they belong. 7. Teaching religious subjects at all levels of the education system of the Kyrgyz Republic on an individual basis and outside of a religious educational institution is prohibited. Persons guilty of violating the requirements provided for in this part are liable in accordance with the legislation on offenses. In agreement with the authorized state body for religious affairs, religious studies subjects of a general educational nature may be included in the educational programs of the education system of the Kyrgyz Republic. 8. Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic have the right to receive religious education abroad after receiving secondary general education (11 grades) in accordance with the legislation on education or receiving religious education. For the purpose of registration, information about the host religious educational institution, citizens traveling to study at religious educational institutions of foreign countries shall notify the authorized state body for religious affairs in writing. When traveling outside the Kyrgyz Republic for the purpose of receiving religious education, citizens shall register with the consular office of the diplomatic (consular) mission of the Kyrgyz Republic in the host country. The authorized state body for religious affairs shall inform the authorized state body in the sphere of foreign affairs about citizens traveling to study at religious educational institutions of foreign countries. The authorized state bodies for religious affairs, education and foreign affairs jointly form a database of foreign religious educational institutions recommended for the education of citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, the procedure for the formation of which is determined by a joint order of the said authorized state bodies. 9. The procedure for providing religious education in religious educational institutions is established by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic (hereinafter referred to as the Cabinet of Ministers).