The youth. Lost generation?
The issues of security have been discussed at a round table in Bishkek the day before. It was noted that the most vulnerable population group, undergoing an aggressive propaganda of attitudes contrary to traditional values, is the young people and the first and foremost- the students.
"Solid undermining of the national values of the younger generation of the republic, including religious ones, can lead to catastrophic consequences for the entire nation and the state as a whole," the expert Nargiza Alapayeva noted.
In what direction we have to steer the youth for the benefit of the state? This question was answered by the respondents of 24.kg news agency.
Tabyldy Akerov, political scientist:
- Today, the state is less engaged in youth policy than in the past. Under the former President Akayev, there was some orientation, program "Cadres of the 21st century," for example. It inspired the youth, gave the impetus, there was shown the perspective - where to go, to get an education, to improve themselves constantly. But today we do not see any programs, even though we had the whole Ministry of Youth with a lack of initiative. There were no young people with new ideas. It was just a structural institute just to divert youth who imposed stringent requirements after April 7. For example, to adopt a law on lustration.
- What steps should be taken today?
- To make fresh start, to dissolve Parliament, to invite enterprising people to politics who would help the country to move forward. It is necessary to make a team, which will be able to convert completely the whole society, as it was, for example, in Georgia. It is impossible to solve the problems of young people while the lacking initiative political elite is in power.
Erik Iriskulbekov, lawyer:
- It is necessary to act depending on age. If these are the students- then on the basis of their interests. What do the guys usually do after the school? They want to get a decent education, respectively, it is necessary to meet their needs. After graduation, people want to find a decent, well-paid job. If a person has already taken place as a specialist and has some ambitions to show himself to the public and the state, it is necessary to create the conditions.
We need to work in schools and universities, to engage in political education of young people, making them more active, involve them in social activities. Now all these social ties are broken even at the school level. Students do not identify themselves as part of society, live apart - as the schoolchildren, students so even some of the townspeople, too. There is no unity of public. I think if there are small groups, the communities united by common aims - moral, ethical, some public interest, we would have achieved much more. Our society has become a fragmentary. This is an obstacle for its own development.
Mars Sariev, political scientist:
- The youth is lost. They can only be brought up from kindergarten. After seven years - it is useless. Therefore, we need a comprehensive approach. There was a strong pedagogical practice in the Soviet Union. And today, starting from kindergarten, we must lead citizens through youth organizations. But, unfortunately, it is impossible because of the financial situation. You can not win the youth from social networks, from the influence of religious factors. I am very pessimistic in this regard. I believe only in a systematic approach starting from the cradle.
Sakhira Nazarova, a resident of Osh:
- I think that young people should be provided an opportunity to get comprehensive information so that they by themselves could analyze and choose what is true and what is - false.
-The citizens have access to the Internet and different information, but the problem is that people can not always choose the right.
-It is necessary to teach the analysis, these skills should be given at school. Now the children are taught only reading and writing, it is necessary to work more on the ability to compare and reflect.
Ainura Arzymatova, doctor of historical sciences:
- It is clear that young people should be forwarded to a constructive direction. Our young people now not in the confusion, but they are not embraced by the due attention of the state. Today's young people have grown after the 1990s, in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union. About 80 percent of young people are living in rural areas, where there is a very low standard of living. Many people - children of migrants whose parents are abroad. Young people are apathetic, they have a low level of culture, education and low professional level.
The state still can not work out a state policy in this field, addressed to the younger generation. And this niche, which the state still controls a little, is filled by religious extremist organizations. Now there is a large-scale attack by religious outlook. Muslim kindergartens are opened. It should be banned. The government should take up these things with a firm hand. There is a summer camp for Muslim children in Kara-Balta, which is attended by three thousand children from all over the country. Is it good?
There is Islamization of the youth in our country, young girls start wearing the hijabs, the guys grow beard. There was a case in Jalal-Abad when two girls in hijabs did not stand up when the anthem of Kyrgyzstan was played. Answering the question of the teacher they said: "Our imam at the mosque said that this is not prescribed in the Quran, so we will not stand up." And many young people when asked about their nationality replied: "I am a Muslim." What does this mean? That we can lose our generation.
- And what should we do?
- Government programs are adopted in our country, but they are declaratory: it is necessary to do so, then in other way. And there are no implementation mechanisms. And I'm not talking about remote areas, where the children are left alone. There was the Ministry of Youth, but it could not fulfill its role, so it was abolished. Now the youth policy is scattered across different ministries. We do not see the result of the state policy on education and development of the younger generation. However, we have 15 percent of good young people, but it is miserable amount... The basis of all - is the economy. The situation can not be changed without economy, without improving the living conditions of the people, without strengthening the institution of the family.
Bakyt Egemberdiev, deputy director of the State Agency for Youth Affairs, Physical Culture and Sports:
- This issue is becoming increasingly important. The government should adopt the Strategy for the Development of Youth Policy for 2016-2020. After this, there will be created a working group consisting of experts, and in the first half of 2017 we will try to develop an ideology of education of the young people. When a person faces a choice, when he is offered values of different kind, there must be a reference point. Ideology should be developed taking into account the public interests, peculiarities of the country, historical values, taking into account diversity, multi-ethnicity and multi- confession.
The ideology will include types of guidance, training and seminars to be held starting from pre-school institutions. We checked kindergartens - they do not have a unified system, all of them educate differently. There are kindergartens, where it is prohibited to speak Russian and the Kyrgyz languages, only foreign language (English, German, Arabic or Turkish). As a result, when the children go to public schools, there is a conflict. Schools are also different, in terms of ideology and education of the young people they do not have the state core, the foundation on which the teachers should base. We will try to prescribe all of these.
Now there are about eight youth groups that are in a potential conflict with each other. A separate group is religious youth, among which there are close to radicalism, there are nationalists who are against Islam and against all the new, conservatives. There is a group of young people oriented to the West, who are against Islam, Kyrgyz traditions and all traditional values in our society. There is Turkey, Russia -oriented youth and pro-Chinese.
- Will you be able to solve the set tasks, taking into account all these challenges?
- There will be involved other state agencies, at least six ministries, the public and the media. There is an experience. We will take a model from Europe, CIS, Asia and create our own method of work.
- It turns out that this work is done late?
- Yes, I must admit. I have been working with the youth for 18 years. About ten years ago we sounded the alarm: it is necessary to begin such work. But then there was another policy: do not work with the young, you just need to give them maximum freedom and choice. As a result - they do not always choose the right things. Therefore it is good that now the government, deputies and the President support the need for adoption of the program.