Modernizing country's social sphere and improving welfare of citizens — Tugzhanov on main aspects in implementation of President’s Address

Deputy Prime Minister Yeraly Tugzhanov, during a briefing at the government’s press center, spoke about the measures to implement the Address of the Head of State.

Tugzhanov noted that the Address of the Head of State to the people "Kazakhstan in a New Reality: Time for Action" identified specific vectors of the country's development, including showing that the main priority of state policy is to modernize the country's social sphere and improve the welfare of citizens.

“Firstly, housing issues will be addressed more actively. In accordance with the needs of civil society, the contributor to the Unified Accumulative Pension Fund will start realizing the possibility of withdrawing part of his savings for the acquisition, treatment or management of financial companies from next year,” said the deputy prime minister.

This is an opportunity to improve the quality of life of more than 721 thousand citizens, in general, a solution to social problems. For the first time, Kazakhstanis will take part in the pension system.

In addition, the state will subsidize the cost of rent for housing, which will allow supporting 100 thousand Kazakhstani families in the first year.

Secondly, the family and demographic situation will improve. As Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted, unfortunately, for every sixth Kazakhstani family, having a child is an unrealizable dream.

Therefore, from 2021, a special program ‘’Ansagan Sabi" will be launched. It is planned to increase the quotas of in vitro fertilization to 7 thousand.

“Thirdly, a new paradigm of social policy will be formed. Today, the country's social security is governed by 17 laws and dozens of legislative acts. Ahead is the task of reducing bureaucracy and simplifying accessibility for the population. In this regard, the government plans to develop a unified social code of the country. This will allow to unite and systematize the entire legal framework,” the deputy prime minister informed.

Fourth, work will continue to improve the availability of public services, or to transfer them to electronic format. As the Head of State said, the principle will be implemented: “not people” should “run”, but “data”.

Government will take measures to prevent a gap in the quality of education

Starting next year, teachers' salaries will be increased by 25%.

By 2025, 100% coverage of children under 6 years of age with preschool education and training will be ensured by attracting private investment.

As Tugzhanov stressed, parents will be able to choose any kindergarten or school themselves, there will be no restrictions in their choice.

“Special attention will be paid to all schools, not dividing them for ‘gifted’ or ‘ordinary’ children. The government will take comprehensive measures to create a level playing field. This is extremely important for avoiding a gap in the quality of education,” he said.

The issue of improving functionality and defining uniform requirements for online educational platforms will be worked out.

“Today is the time of knowledge. New knowledge is created every day. We must learn not only to quickly master new knowledge, but also to generate it. This will determine how competitive our nation will be. Therefore, our main task is to lay the foundation for teaching Kazakhstanis throughout their lives, to be able to adapt to new realities," Tugzhanov noted.

In this regard, the government will develop the Concept of Continuing Education, which will become a systematic document for the development of human capital.

The head of state has repeatedly noted that the future of Kazakhstan is inextricably linked with the dynamic development of small and medium-sized businesses. To do this, it is already necessary to prepare a new wave of entrepreneurs. Therefore, the subject "Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship" will be introduced at all levels of education — from schools to universities. A similar approach will be applied to the ecological education of the younger generation.

Only a healthy nation is capable of becoming intellectual

The President paid special attention to the formation of a versatile personality of the younger generation: the development of sports and creative potential. Therefore, additional measures will be worked out for the development of mass sports, the resumption of the activities of children's clubs.

The work on the closure of universities providing low-quality education will be intensified.

Development of science will be a priority

On the instructions of the President, 1,000 grants will be allocated for the Young Scientist project.

A major reform will be the obligation to transfer 1% of the income of subsoil users for the development of science and technology. This decision is aimed at dramatically increasing the competitiveness of key sectors of our economy: industry, green economy, introduction of new technologies, etc.

Particular attention will be paid to the development of the domestic pharmaceutical industry.

Firstly, the government will allocate 150 billion tenge to pay incentive bonuses to medical workers for the second half of the year.

Secondly, in accordance with international standards, the material and technical base of healthcare facilities will be modernized:

  • by October 2020, it is expected to complete the construction of 13 new modular infectious diseases hospitals.
  • by the end of December 2021 in Nur-Sultan and Almaty will build 2 multidisciplinary research centers for infectious diseases in Almaty and Nur-Sultan, 500 beds each;
  • by December 2021, the construction of a unique National Scientific Cancer Center with the most advanced equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases, including technologies of proton, radiation, laser therapy, and nuclear medicine, will be completed in Nur-Sultan. This is the most important facility for the country, since 187 thousand Kazakhstanis are registered with oncological diseases;
  • 20 modern multidisciplinary hospitals will be built by 2025, providing the entire spectrum of high-tech medical care to the population. For these purposes, 1.5 trillion tenge of investments will be directed. 

Thirdly, the government will develop an appropriate plan to improve the provision of medical and sanitary care, more than 100 mobile auto complexes, more than 1,100 domestic medical vehicles are purchased in the regions.

“Fourth, special attention will be paid to the development of the domestic pharmaceutical industry. Our task is to bring the industry to a new level of development in order to provide our own production of medicines. In this regard, the government will adopt a special Comprehensive Plan,” said the deputy prime minister. 

Fifth, a long-term forecast of the provision of medical personnel will be drawn up, as well as the approaches to training rare specialties: epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, resuscitation specialists, pulmonologists, cardiologists will be revised.

In Kazakhstan, the role of public councils will be increased

Also, Yeraly Tugzhanov drew attention to the fact that the main goal of the President's Address is the formation of a new Kazakhstani patriotism through improving the quality of life of every citizen.

This requires principles based on spiritual, historical values ​​that meet modern requirements.

To this end, special attention is paid to enhancing the role of public councils. To date, the bill is under consideration in the Mazhilis. Within its framework, it is planned to improve the qualitative and quantitative composition of meetings, increase the efficiency and transparency of their work. From the side of society, favorable offers and activity are needed, observance of the rules of civil decency and disciplinary control, a high culture of education.

In addition, the government has developed and submitted to the Parliament a bill on information, providing for the improvement of national legislation in the field of media, broadcasting and access to information.

“In accordance with the instructions of the Head of State, work is underway to revise and supplement existing programs to modernize public consciousness in order to form a new national identity. However, it should be borne in mind that society needs to be active in expanding consciousness, adopting new approaches to spiritual development, implementing new projects,” Tugzhanov concluded.

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