One of the most difficult periods in the history of Kyrgyz statehood was the time when the Kyrgyz were part of the Kokand Khanate. Currently, the formation of the Kokand Khanate, the formation of the sphere of government, the national composition of the state, and the traditional education of the southern Kyrgyz, where the Kyrgyz people predominate, are the subject of much debate among Kyrgyz historians.It is known that the foundations of the traditional education system in the Kokand Khanate were established several centuries ago. Similar educational systems were also widespread in neighboring territories. However, this aspect has not been fully explored in studies of the Kokand Khanate’s history. This article examines the traditional educational institutions of the Kokand Khanate period — madrasas, mosque-attached schools, and home-based education — their functions and roles in society. The author notes that education in the khanate was conducted on a religious basis, and that madrasas taught not only religious subjects but also some secular disciplines. It is also emphasized that such institutions continued to operate actively during the Tsarist period. As a result, the article reveals the distinctive features of the traditional education system of the Kokand Khanate.