On the instructions of the President of Kazakhstan, large-scale legislative and strategic measures are being implemented to protect the rights of children. At the moment there are 6.8 million children in the country, which is one third of the population.

"Creating conditions for harmonious and comprehensive development of children, protecting the rights and health of young citizens will always be a key priority of our state. Children are the future of Kazakhstan, so it is important that every child in the country grows up in love and care, feels the support of adults, and is confident in the future," Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasised.

In this regard, one of the key initiatives was the creation of the Institute of Mentors for the adaptation of children left without parental care. Today, more than 330 children receive such support. Measures have also been taken to strengthen penalties for offences against children and administrative responsibility for bullying minors has been introduced. To ensure the safety of children, it is prohibited by law for them to disembark from buses.

Since 2025 QR codes are introduced in schools and colleges for quick reference to the unified republican contact centre 111. In January of this year alone, 17,400 appeals from children were received. The country has commissioners for children's rights, and the number of specialists of guardianship bodies has been doubled from 303 to 692 from 2024. Now the standard is set: at least one specialist per 5,000 children.

To date, 17,600 orphans are being brought up in Kazakh families, and in 2024 more than 3,000 children will find a new family. A new form of family placement, the professional foster family, is being introduced; the initiative is aimed at showing care and creating a welcoming environment at home for children in difficult life situations.

Since 2024, 627 kindergartens have been opened, providing coverage for 93.1 per cent of children. The waiting list has been halved over the past five years.

The Comfortable School national project is helping to solve the problem of overcrowding and three-shifts. 105 new-format schools have already been opened. In 2024, 257 schools with 373,000 seats will be built, and about 200 schools are under construction. Security measures for educational institutions have been strengthened. More than 20,000 institutions have been equipped with video surveillance systems with connection to operational control centres. Panic buttons, turnstiles and licensed guards have been installed.

The State pays special attention to ensuring equal opportunities for the younger generation. In the 2024-2025 school year, more than 1.7 million children in State schools will be provided with free meals. A total of 162 billion tenge has been allocated for this purpose. An additional 22.5 billion tenge has been allocated to provide 510,000 children with school supplies under the Universal Education Fund (universal compulsory education for school-age children). A new initiative is the provision of assistance to children from SUSN studying in public schools under the state educational order. Since the beginning of 2025, the local budget has allocated more than 12 billion tenge for free meals for 25,000 children.

In all regions of Kazakhstan, favourable conditions are being created for the development of additional education and the organisation of children's recreation. Today, 3.3 million young Kazakhstanis attend clubs and sections in various areas. Last summer, more than 3.1 million children were provided with recreational holidays in 10,700 camps.

A safe environment in educational organisations is not limited only to technical means of safety, but also includes the emotional well-being of the child. The State has approved a comprehensive plan to protect children from violence, prevent suicide and ensure their rights and well-being. The plan is a package of measures aimed at creating a safe environment for children. As part of its implementation, 20 psychological support centres had been opened in the regions and more than 242,000 schoolchildren and families had received assistance.

Anti-bullying programmes such as Kiva and DOSBOLLiKe have been introduced in all educational institutions. These measures help to create an atmosphere of friendliness and mutual respect in schools. Since September 2024, lessons on personal safety, which take into account the age characteristics of schoolchildren, have been introduced, and more than 14,300 employees of educational organisations have been trained in the protection of children's rights. The ‘Birtutas Tarbiye’ education programme has also been introduced for interaction between families and schools and the development of a culture of positive parenting.

Kazakhstan continues to strengthen the legal framework, enhance social support and improve the safety of children, forming a solid foundation for their comprehensive development and a prosperous future.

#Education #Protection of Children's Rights