This paper is the result of a request from the European Commission Directorate General XXII for an in-depth study into the vocational education and training system in one of the countries of the New Independent States of Mongolia. This document examines those parts of the Kyrgyz education system with direct links to Vocational Education and Training (VET). The following topics are discussed: Kyrgyzstan's geography, climate, infrastructure, population, culture, religions, economy, labor market, and education system; initial vocational training and the vocational-technical school (VTS) system (the VTS system's organization; tasks and responsibilities of the Directorate for Vocational and Technical Training; the VTS system's financing, staffing, students, curricula, methodological tools, technical equipment, teaching tools, and physical premises; international cooperation in the area of initial vocational training); the system of special secondary education (the system's organization, contents, financing, staffing, and students); retraining of unemployed people in Kyrgyzstan's VTS system; main problems of VET in Kyrgyzstan (international coordination, general upgrading of the state VET system; establishing of relevant links between VET, the Employment Service, and the labor market; financing); and recommendations. Appendixes constituting approximately 40% of this document contain the following: overview of an information system being developed for the Department for Training of Workers and Entrepreneurs; list of existing vocational training centers under the Ministry of Labor; and list of institutions by the Ministry of Education providing technical and/or VET at the secondary level or through special secondary education. (MN)