Over the past seven years, Kazakhstan has built 1,341 schools providing over one million student places. At the same time, the Government is strengthening support for teachers and expanding the use of AI in the secondary education system, El.kz reports citing Akorda.
As part of the “Keleshek Mektepteri” (“Schools of the Future”) project, 217 schools with a total capacity of 460,000 students have been built. Of these, 84 schools, or approximately 40% of all facilities under the project, are located in rural areas.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stressed that the quality of education must be equally high regardless of where a child lives. Modern learning environments, digital tools and qualified teachers must be accessible both in urban and rural areas.
The Head of State placed particular emphasis on raising the status of the teaching profession. Kazakhstan has enacted the Law “On the Status of a Teacher” and established the honorary title “Distinguished Teacher of Kazakhstan”. Several teachers have also been awarded the country’s highest state distinction, “Hero of Labour of Kazakhstan”
Tokayev highlighted the role of competent and experienced teachers in the country’s development. According to the President, the professionalism of teachers is a major factor determining the quality of human capital and the preparation of the next generation.
In recent years, the Government has strengthened support for prospective teachers. Scholarships for students enrolled in teacher-training programmes have increased 2.5-fold.
The President also stated that lessons on artificial intelligence should be made an integral and mandatory part of the secondary education system. New technologies should be incorporated into the educational process and help students develop skills that will be in demand in the future.
At the same time, the Head of State stressed that digitalisation must not displace teachers. The teacher remains the key figure in the school environment, as teachers are responsible not only for imparting knowledge but also for fostering educated, responsible and law-abiding citizens.
Tokayev also drew attention to the importance of teachers serving as role models. According to the President, respect for work, integrity, mutual respect and a sense of responsibility should be developed among children through their everyday school environment.
The President also called on young people to associate success with education and honest work. He stressed that achieving strong results requires preparation, knowledge and continuous self-improvement.
“Life is not a fairy tale. Only those who are well-rounded, well-prepared and well-educated can achieve success,” the Head of State noted.
The President identified the development of a competitive generation of nation-builders as one of the key objectives of the education system. According to him, cleanliness, diligence, mutual respect and integrity should become fundamental values of the people of Kazakhstan.
