Education in Kazakhstan is a constant educational and training process that contributes to the development of professional and moral qualities of the country's citizens. What are the features of education in the country, what grants and scholarships exist, and how are foreigners trained? We will answer all questions in this publication.
Peculiarities of Kazakhstan's education system
The education system in Kazakhstan is arranged in such a way that curricula in the republic are usually divided into two types: professional and general. In addition, there are several levels. So, education is preschool, secondary, higher and postgraduate, or, as it is also called, postgraduate.
Secondary education in the Republic (Kazakhstan)
All citizens of the country must obtain a secondary education without fail. It also has several levels. The concept of secondary education includes general, primary vocational and secondary technical (orsecondary vocational). Children are accepted to school from the age of six or seven. Secondary education has three levels: elementary school (grades 1 to 4), basic school (grades 5 to 9) and senior school (grades 10 to 11). The most gifted students can study in special programs in schools designed for gifted children, where they can reach their full potential.
As for primary vocational education, the period of its receipt usually lasts from two to three years, and young people receive it in a vocational lyceum or school (already on the basis of the general secondary). Colleges and schools are designed for three to four courses.
Higher education in Kazakhstan
To get higher education, you must first graduate from school, college or college. Applicants enter after passing the final and entrance exams in the form of a single standardized test, which is called the UNT. Those who completed their secondary education before the innovation may write another paper. In their case, it is necessary to pass a comprehensive test. After successfully passing the competition, citizens of the republic can receive an international scholarship called "Bolashak", which opens up the opportunity to get an education abroad. When a student graduates from a university, he becomes a bachelor (bachelor's degree implies four years of study), a specialist (five years) or a master's degree (six years). The second higher education in Kazakhstan can be obtained only on the basis ofcontract. At the same time, training takes place at an accelerated pace, in two or three years.
Eurasian National University, Kazakh National University. Al-Farabi, Karaganda State University and many others. others
Postgraduate education
In order to receive professional postgraduate training, Kazakhstanis must be specialists or masters. Such training is usually divided into postgraduate, assistant and doctoral studies. Residents of the country may be awarded, after successfully passing the competition, an international scholarship, which they can spend on education abroad. Postgraduate students study for no more than 4 years, assistants - no more than 3 years, and doctoral studies usually last three years.
Scholarships and grants
According to the legislation of Kazakhstan, all citizens can receive secondary and primary vocational education for free, and after passing the competition - grants for free secondary vocational, higher and postgraduate education (if this is the first education). There is also a system of state credits. Such educational loans are also issued on the basis of a competition. This takes into account the points of the certificate, which is issued after passing the UNT test. Grants can be received on the basis of priority selection by those who won the Olympiads at the level of the republic and highercompetitions.
Education for foreigners
Foreigners who permanently live in Kazakhstan can get an education in the same way as citizens of the republic. This is approved by the legislative base of the country, a number of international treaties, etc. Education in Kazakhstan is constantly developing, the system is being improved in accordance with the requirements of the time. However, the right to free education and the possibility of receiving state scholarships remains a fundamental factor for both citizens of the country, and for foreigners and persons who do not have citizenship.
Historical background
The year of formation of Kazakhstan as a separate state became the starting point at the beginning of the reform of the educational system in the country.
At the beginning of the 20th century, most of the children studied in the madrasah, where the study concerned only religious issues and was rather limited. Before the revolution of 1917, there were only a few schools with Kazakh and Russian languages of instruction. In Soviet times, the situation changed. The year of the formation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, already as an independent state, laid the foundation for fundamental reforms in this area.
In the early 90s, there were about 8.5 thousand secondary schools in the country, in which more than 3 million children studied. At the same time, about 272,000 students were studying in 61 higher education institutions in Kazakhstan (of which approximately 54 percent are Kazakhs and 31 percent are Russians).
In 1995, in accordance with the State Constitution, secondary education becameofficially mandatory. Higher education institutions began to accept applicants on the basis of a competition.
International cooperation
Education, science of the Republic of Kazakhstan are developing under state and international control and patronage. This applies to both secondary schools and universities.
In 2000, the authorities of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan directed their activities to the organization of an international institution. It was supposed to have the name of the University of Central Asia and become the first institution of its kind in the world practice. It was assumed that the organization would have three campuses, and the building in Kazakhstan was built near the capital.
In 2003, the Asian Development Bank allocated $600,000 to the state for technical support. Members of the Peace Corps also cooperated with Kazakhstan in the field of education as representatives of a non-governmental organization.
2006 was the year of the visit of Condoleezza Rice to the country. In her speech on visiting schools and higher educational institutions of the republic, she noted their high level. According to her, this should become a factor in the successful development of the state.
Teaching languages in Kazakhstan
According to statistics released in 2009, out of more than 2.5 million children studying in state secondary schools, about 60 percent chose the Kazakh language of instruction, about 35 percent Russian, and 3 percent Uzbek. The total number of schools where teaching is conducted in the state language, incurrently growing.
Thus, in October 2009, more than 60% of school students and 48% of university students studied in Kazakh.
The Minister of Education of Kazakhstan noted in 2010 that Russian secondary schools are not specifically closed by the state. And only the parents of the student can choose which school to send their children to. At the same time, the Minister of Education also focused on the fact that the Russian language of instruction remains in about 30% of secondary schools, and this figure is actually far from small.
Since 2010, the study of the history of the country in Kazakh schools has been officially conducted only in Kazakh.
Already in 2011, statistics showed that the number of university students who study in the state language is more than 300 thousand (more than 50% of students).
For young people in the country, the motivation for learning their native Kazakh is that it provides a pass to receive educational grants, promotes career advancement, including government and legal practice.
Most of the citizens of the republic, in addition to the state language, also study in Russian. However, there are several types of national schools. They can be Tajik, Uzbek and Uighur. At the same time, their graduates can choose in which language to pass the unified testing. But the choice can only be made in favor of Russian or Kazakh.
Statistics of 2014 confirms the thesis that more than 50% of students in schools and universities choose the state language. It says inthe promotion of the Kazakh language in the education system.
