Today in Ukimet Uyі, the Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev chaired the first meeting of the National Commission on the transition of the Kazakh alphabet into Latin script.

The National Commission is a consultative and advisory body under the Government, whose main goal and task is to prepare and approve proposals for translating the Kazakh alphabet into Latin script, coordinating and monitoring the quality of work performance.

Deputy chairman - Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, E. Dossaev, as well as representatives of the Administration of the President, the Nur Otan Party, the Parliament of Kazakhstan, universities, mass media, public organizations, famous scientists and public figures are included in the commission under the chairmanship of Bakytzhan Sagintayev. The working body of the commission is the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

"The transition to the Latin alphabet is a special historical event for our country," Bakytzhan Sagintayev emphasized. "As the Head of State notes, for the first time in centuries-old history, Kazakhstan, without any external influences, changes the alphabet on its own initiative and the will of the people. The successful implementation of this task is of significant importance and entrusts us with a great responsibility."

Vice Minister of Culture and Sports, A. Raimkulov, Minister of Education and Science, Y. Sagadiyev, Minister of Finance, B. Sultanov made reports on the main directions of work on translation into Latin alphabet. Also, Deputy Prime Minister, E. Dossaev, First Deputy Chairman of the Nur Otan Party, M. Kul-Muhammad, Minister for Religious Affairs and Civil Society, N. Yermekbayev, Director of the Institute of Linguistics named after A. Baitursynov, E. Kazhybek, Doctor of philological sciences, professor, head of the Kazakh National Pedagogical University named after Abay, T. Ayapova.

The transition of the Kazakh alphabet into Latin script until 2025 is supposed to be carried out in stages. The first stage: 2018-2020, the second: 2021-2023, the third: 2024-2025.

The issues of approbation, training of the teaching corps, the creation of a regulatory framework and, in general, the process of introducing the new alphabet into practice will be on the special control of the National Commission.

During the meeting, a decision was made to create four special working groups to implement the tasks set.

The first is orthographical (for the development of the rules of spelling and orthoepy of the Kazakh alphabet for Latin graphics).

The second — methodical (for the development of methods of teaching, study and their gradual introduction into the educational system).

The third — terminological (for the systematization of the terminological fund of the Kazakh language on the basis of Latin graphics).

The fourth one is expert and technical (for adapting Latin graphics to IT technologies).

The work in the groups will involve professional specialists of the relevant branches of linguistics.