At the government session chaired by the Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, the integrated plans on the development of education and science system were considered. Minister of Education and Science Askhat Aimagambetov reported on what reforms the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan is planning to implement.

On pre-school education

The minister reported that the coverage of kindergartens for children aged 3 to 6 reached 99%. As part of the reforms of preschool education, it is planned to implement 3 points:

First, a model of preschool education and training has been adopted. We will implement it this year. If earlier for young children, as well as at school, 20-minute classes were held according to the schedule, now, according to the new model, the teacher will carry out training and education according to a special method from the moment the child arrives in the kindergarten and through play and communication on the physiological and psychological needs of children this age. Studies of foreign experience also show the importance of this technique.

Second, to ensure the quality of kindergartens, the requirements for them will be tightened. These will be the material and technical base, a video surveillance system, the qualifications of teachers, compliance with sanitary and fire safety standards, and the main requirements for issuing a state order. Including from private kindergartens, it is required to create comfortable conditions for children.

Third, to ensure transparency in the distribution of places in kindergartens, all electronic queues in the regions will now be integrated into a single database for the Republic.

On the level of secondary education

The Ministry of Education and Science, in addition to the above, presented the main directions in the upcoming reform of secondary education.

“Along with academic knowledge, students will be offered an elective course on global competencies, aimed at acquiring life skills,” the minister said.

During the meeting of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the head of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan also touched upon the further modernization of curricula:

“The President gave instructions on the development of technical specialties. For its implementation, it is necessary to improve the quality of mathematical knowledge. To do this, we update curricula, teaching aids and textbooks. For example, the study of mathematics by schoolchildren with division into groups,” said Aimagambetov.

In order to prepare children for future employment, the ministry pays great attention to early career guidance, the relevant changes to the program will be introduced by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

As part of the quality improvement, the requirements for candidates for Altyn Belgi will be tightened.

“Starting from this year, an external assessment of the quality of education will be fully introduced. The state certification procedure is carried out in the form of preventive control over the levels of kindergarten, school, college. The necessary changes have been made to the law,” the minister said during the government session.

To solve the problem of shortage of subject teachers, the Ministry of Education and Science uses the mechanism of retraining. By retraining for teaching, specialists will be admitted who do not have a specialized pedagogical education, but who have sufficient professional competencies.

“On behalf of the Head of State, advanced training courses will now be held for teachers not once every 5 years, but once every 3 years. The relevant bill is under consideration in Parliament. The content of teachers' courses is also changing significantly,” said Aimagambetov.

In order to solve the problems of shortage of student places, emergency and three-shift schools, it is planned to open 200 new schools, and to modernize 1,003 rural schools. 560 schools will undergo major and comprehensive repairs, 2,068 subject rooms will be purchased. Furniture will be updated in 598 schools, 862 libraries are being upgraded. At least 2 million children's fiction and educational literature will be purchased.

“On the instructions of the President, we are working to introduce norms at the legislative level to prevent the privatization of schoolchildren's palaces, music and art schools. For the greater coverage of children with extracurricular classes and courses, for the first time this year, a mechanism for placing a state order for additional education will be implemented. Also, for the first time, a state order will be introduced for special psychological and pedagogical support for special children,” the minister said.

On colleges

According to the plans of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, to cover graduates with specialties this year, the number of state orders will increase by 20 thousand places.

Employers will be involved in the development of curricula and the management of colleges to prepare the necessary specialists with entry into the boards of trustees and industrial councils. Large enterprises will take under their patronage industry colleges, such enterprises will reach 100 this year.

“A number of measures will be developed to support dual education. Colleges are given complete academic independence in the training of personnel. All training programs will be agreed with employers and subjected to examination by the employer. To train personnel together with employers, for the first time this year, in a pilot mode, we will issue a state order to the enterprises themselves,” said Askhat Aimagambetov.

Higher education

In 2022, the total number of grants will increase by 10%. The share of grants for technical areas will be increased from 40% to 60%, the rural quota this year will be 35%.

“Applicants from regions with a discrepancy in the quality of education will be allocated an additional 10,000 targeted grants in technical areas. We have analyzed and identified the regions. These are Mangystau and Atyrau regions. According to the plan, students will study at the leading universities of the country. Also, at the end of the training, compensation is provided with a trip to the place of residence,” the minister said.

As part of the reform of higher education, the Ministry of Education and Science plans to introduce a provision for the provision of educational grants to children of law enforcement and special government employees who died while performing public order tasks.

“In order to accelerate the training of personnel for the economy, this year, in a pilot mode, the introduction of an applied bachelor's degree with 2.5 - 3 years of study will begin. In higher education, it is planned to introduce a new form of online learning. The relevant bill is under consideration in the Majilis. This is a measure that meets the needs of digitalization,” said Aimagambetov.

On behalf of the Head of State, the Ministry of Education and Science will open 5 branches of prestigious foreign universities.

“Currently, a branch of the British University De Montfort Leicester has started functioning in the country. North Kazakhstan State University was transferred to the trust management of the University of Arizona. Negotiations are also underway to open a branch of the best universities in technical areas. Negotiations are underway to open a branch of another British university. In order to ensure the access of the youth of the Western region of the country to education based on high standards, branches of two leading foreign technical universities will be opened,” said Aimagambetov.

Support for science

The Ministry of Education and Science will take comprehensive measures to support scientists. The allocation of 1,000 grants for research by young scientists will be organized, and 500 scientists will be sent for internships at leading foreign research centers. For the first time in 2022, postdoctoral studies will be introduced at universities and research institutes.

“While earlier scientists were paid only through competitions, now leading scientists will receive a stable salary. This will improve the position of about 1,200 leading scientists from 85 scientific organizations,” said Aimagambetov.

In addition, scientists from the Institute of History and Ethnology, the Institute of Linguistics, the Institute of Mathematics, the Institute of Nuclear Physics, the Institute of Literature and Art, Philosophy and other institutions engaged in the most important fundamental research for the country will now receive wages in a stable mode and work continuously.

In addition to the above, the Ministry of Education and Science will continue this year to modernize the material and technical base of research institutes.