At the government session chaired by the Prime Minister Askar Mamin, systemic issues of the development of the education sector were considered.

Minister of Education and Science Askhat Aimagambetov, akims of Nur-Sultan Altay Kulginov, of Kostanay region — Archimed Mukhambetov, of Zhambyl region — Berdibek Saparbayev, Deputy Prime Minister Yeraly Tugzhanov presented their reports.

As part of the implementation of the pre-election program of the Nur Otan party, measures have been developed to modernize the content of education, create its new infrastructure, and provide social support for teachers and students.

By 2024, teachers' salaries and student scholarships will double. 800 new schools will be built and 5,000 rural schools will be modernized. Education in colleges on the basis of the 9th grade will be completely free. The practice of transferring colleges to business trust will continue (to date, 10 colleges have been transferred).

The educational programs of universities will be 100% updated on the basis of professional standards, which will increase the employment opportunities for graduates. In order to reduce the outflow of talented youth, it is planned to open branches of foreign universities. 20 leading Russian universities will become points of growth for the regions. Based on the experience of Nazarbayev University, two leading universities will be created, engaged in the development of innovations and new technologies.

To increase the accessibility of higher education, the number of grants will increase by 50% until 2025. Annually, 1000 grants will be allocated to young scientists, and 500 Kazakhstani scientists will be able to train in recognized scientific centers of the world.

On behalf of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in April 2021, the Concept of Continuing Education will be adopted, which provides for the recognition of the results of self-study of Kazakhstanis with the issuance of documents of the established form.

The Head of Government instructed the Ministry of Education and Science to complete the approbation of the voucher mechanism for financing preschool education by December 2021 and ensure its widespread implementation from 2022, until April 1, 2021, to approve and introduce indicators of the quality of the work of kindergartens, accepted in the world practice (in the Starting Well rating).

“The work of kindergartens should be assessed taking into account the level of satisfaction of parents, indicators of early development of children, quality of nutrition, public assessment,” Mamin said.

Akimats of the regions were instructed to ensure the opening of up to 32 thousand places of preschool education in 2021 through the development of a network of private kindergartens, to commission 200 new schools, as well as to take specific measures to level the learning conditions in urban and rural schools, incl. to secure highly qualified teachers in rural areas.

Ministry of Education and Science, regional akimats were instructed until March 25, 2021, to submit a Roadmap for the modernization of 5 thousand rural schools with specific indicators for their equipment, repair, environmental safety conditions, renovation of school furniture, modernization of libraries and school canteens.

The head of government instructed to ensure an increase in the current year of the state order for training in colleges by 20 thousand places, as well as to conduct early career guidance work with graduates of grades 9 and 11.

Ministry of Education and Science was instructed to select the 20 most powerful universities and until March 25, 2021, to submit a list of them to the Government for consideration by the Council for the Competitiveness of Universities.

“Comprehensive modernization of the education system will create the necessary conditions for the formation of high-quality human capital, which is a key factor in the global competitiveness of the economy,” Mamin said.