On 11 March 2026, a roundtable  Challenges of Online Aggression Among Youth in Kyrgyzstan was held at the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic, bringing together representatives of government institutions, educational organizations, and the research community.  The event gathered 84 participants in both offline and online formats, including Deputy Minister of Education Lira Samykbaeva.

During the roundtable, researchers from the Taalim-Forum Public Foundation  presented findings from an empirical study conducted in 2025 within an international research project implemented in partnership with the University of Hamburg. The study is based on a survey of 2,096 respondents aged 9-25 from 128 educational institutions across all regions of Kyrgyzstan, including Bishkek and Osh.

The findings indicate that approximately every second respondent experienced some form of online aggression within the past year, suggesting a trend towards the normalization of negative digital experiences among youth.

The discussion outlined key recommendations for strengthening safe digital environments in education. These include the further development of regulatory frameworks, the introduction of a legal definition of cyberbullying, and the integration of digital ethics and online safety into teacher training and school practices. Particular emphasis was placed on preventive approaches and the expansion of psychological support mechanisms for students.

The researchers emphasized that reducing cyberbullying among children requires coordinated, systemic, and multi-stakeholder efforts.

The roundtable was held within the DAAD-funded international project Transnational Educational and Research Strategies Against Digital Hate.

Further information:

Roundtable coverage on the website of the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic: https://edu.gov.kg/posts/4847/

Online Aggression: Research Findings and Practical Solutions, Kut Bilim educational portal: https://kutbilim.kg/analytics/inner/onlayn-agressiya-izild-zhana-praktikalyk-chechimder/

Taalim-Forum Public Foundation: https://taalimforum.kg/digital-hate-project/activities/roundtable-research-results-ministry-2026

Photo credit: Taalim-Forum / J.Doolbekova

Other project activities

• Online Workshop for Educators: How to Identify Cyberbullying Among Adolescents
• ReAction Anti-Cyberbullying Week: “Your Reaction Matters!”
• ReAction Training for Educators: Preventing Cyberhate and Cyberbullying among Youth
• ReAction Training: Youth and Educators Against Cyberbullying
• Roundtable on Online Aggression Held at the Ministry of Education in Kyrgyzstan
• STOP Online Bullying: Peer-to-Peer Training for Student Trainers