Education in Kazakhstan is a constant educational and training process that contributes to the development of professional and moral qualities of citizens of the country. 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.
Features of the education system of Kazakhstan
The education system in Kazakhstan is designed in such a way that it is customary to divide the curriculum in the republic 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 necessarily receive secondary education. There are also several levels. The concept of secondary education includes general, primary vocational and secondary (or secondary vocational). Children are accepted to school from six to seven years old. Secondary education has three levels: primary school (from first to fourth grade), primary (fifth through ninth grade) and senior (tenth and eleventh grades). The most gifted students can study for special programs in educational institutions designed for gifted children, where they can most fully reveal their potential.
As for primary vocational education, the period for receiving it lasts, as a rule, from two to three years, and young people get it at a professional lyceum or school (already on the basis of a general secondary). Colleges and schools are designed for three to four courses.
Higher education in Kazakhstan
For higher education, you must first graduate from school, college or college. Applicants come after passing final and entrance exams in the form of a single standardized test, which is called UNT. Those who have received secondary education before the innovation can write another work. In their case, it is necessary to pass comprehensive testing. After successful completion of the competition, citizens of the republic can receive an international scholarship called "Bolashak", which opens the opportunity to get an education abroad. When a student graduates, he becomes a bachelor (bachelor's degree means 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 of a contract. At the same time, training takes place at an accelerated pace, for two to three years.
Leading universities recognized Eurasian National University, KazNU. Al-Farabi, Karaganda State University and many others. other
Postgraduate education
In order to receive professional postgraduate training, Kazakhstanis must be specialists or masters. Such training is usually divided into graduate school, assistant and doctoral studies. After successful completion of the competition, residents of the country may be awarded an international scholarship, which they can spend on obtaining education abroad. Graduate students study no more than 4 years, assistants - no more than 3 years, and doctoral studies last, as a rule, three years.
Scholarships and grants
According to the legislation of Kazakhstan, all citizens can receive secondary and primary vocational education for free, and after completing the competition - grants for free secondary vocational, higher and postgraduate education (if this is the first education). There is also a system of government loans. Such educational loans are also granted on a competitive basis. This takes into account the points of the certificate, which is issued after passing UNT testing. Grants can be received on the basis of preferential selection for those who won in the olympiads at the level of the republic and in higher competitions.
Education for foreigners
Foreigners who permanently live in Kazakhstan can receive education in the same way as citizens of the republic. This is approved by the legislative framework of the country, a number of international treaties, etc. Education in Kazakhstan is constantly evolving, the system is being improved in accordance with the requirements of the time. However, the right to free education and the possibility of obtaining state scholarships remains a fundamental factor for both citizens of the country, and for foreigners and persons who do not have citizenship.
History reference
The year of formation of Kazakhstan as a separate state was 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 madrassas, where studies concerned only religious issues and was quite 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 formation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as an independent state, laid the foundation for thorough reforms in this area.
At the beginning of the 90s there were about 8.5 thousand secondary schools in the country, in which more than 3 million children attended. At the same time, about 272,000 students studied at 61 higher education institutions of Kazakhstan (of which about 54 percent were Kazakhs and 31 percent were Russian).
In 1995, in accordance with the Constitution of the state, secondary education became officially compulsory. Higher educational institutions began to accept applicants on the basis of a competition.
The international cooperation
Education, science of the Republic of Kazakhstan are developing under state and international control and patronage. This applies to both high schools and universities.
In 2000, the authorities of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan directed their activities to the organization of an international institute. It should have been called the University of Central Asia and become the first institution of its kind in world practice. It was understood that the organization would have three campuses, and a building in Kazakhstan was built near the capital.
In 2003, the Asian Development Bank allocated $ 600 thousand to the state for technical support. Members of the Peace Corps also collaborated with Kazakhstan in the field of education as representatives of a non-governmental organization.
2006 was the year of the visit to the country of Condoleezza Rice. In her speech about attending 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.
Languages of Education in Kazakhstan
According to statistics released in 2009, of the more than 2.5 million children enrolled in public secondary schools, about 60 percent chose the Kazakh language of instruction, about 35 percent chose Russian, and 3 percent chose Uzbek. The total number of schools where instruction is in the state language is currently 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 should 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 country's history in Kazakhstani 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 residents of the country, the motivation for studying native Kazakh is that it provides a pass to receive grants for education, promotes career advancement, including in the government and legal practice.
For the most part, 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 undergo a single test. But the choice can only be made in favor of Russian or Kazakh.
The 2014 statistics confirm the thesis that in schools and universities, students in the amount of more than 50% choose the state language. This speaks in favor of the popularization of the Kazakh language in the education system.