Education - The Times Of Central Asia

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Education

Knowledge Day in Central Asia: What’s Changing in Schools This Academic Year?

Secondary schools across Central Asia are embracing modern teaching methods and aiming to elevate the status of teachers, as the new academic year begins with a wave of reforms. Kazakhstan: AI in Classrooms and Teacher Protections In Kazakhstan, the academic year begins on September 2, as Constitution Day on the 1st is a national holiday. Over 370,000 first-graders are expected to enter school this year. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, significant reforms are underway in the country’s education system. Amendments to the Law “On the Status of Teachers” will shield educators from non-teaching duties and protect them from undue legal responsibility. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has emphasized that educators should not be held accountable for incidents involving children that occur outside school or due to parental negligence. New “personal safety” lessons will also be introduced across all educational levels, from kindergartens to colleges. These age-appropriate classes will cover topics ranging from water safety and interaction with strangers to cyberbullying, financial literacy, and legal awareness. Schools and colleges are also rolling out DosbolLIKE, an anti-bullying initiative piloted in 50 schools last year, designed to curb bullying in student communities. Artificial intelligence will be introduced into the curriculum via “Digital Literacy” and “Computer Science” classes. AI-focused online courses called Day of AI are now available for grades 1-11, with training programs also developed for teachers. Despite the construction of 1,200 new schools accommodating over a million students in recent years, the high birth rate continues to strain infrastructure. In Almaty alone, the shortage exceeds 34,000 school places. Uzbekistan: Ivy League Aspirations and Civic Values In Uzbekistan, school also starts on September 2, a customary date. The first lesson will be conducted under the motto: “In the name of the Motherland, in the name of the nation, in the name of the people!” According to the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, 738,000 first-graders will receive gifts from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. An international school is set to open this September, initially enrolling 60 top-performing graduates of the 8th grade. The curriculum will include leadership and social activism training, with a focus on preparing students for admission to Ivy League universities. A nationwide talent identification and development program is also in development. The weekly Kelazhak Soati (“Hour of the Future”) class will debut this year, aiming to strengthen students’ moral values and encourage reflection on their future roles in society. Kyrgyzstan: Transition to 12-Year Education This academic year marks Kyrgyzstan’s official transition to a 12-year education system. The reform affects lesson structures, curricula, and textbooks. The transition, to be completed by 2028, includes the redistribution of students across grade levels. For example, third graders born in 2015 will skip to fifth grade, and sixth graders born in 2012 will advance to eighth grade. Further shifts are scheduled for the next two academic years. While the extended education model is expected to allow deeper learning and skills development, the transition period may cause confusion among students, parents, and educators. Adapting to new...

Higher Education

Indian Regulator Flags Concerns About Uzbek University

India’s National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a warning to Indian students regarding enrollment at the Chirchik branch of Tashkent State Medical University in Uzbekistan, as well as three medical schools in Belize. As reported by The New Indian Express, the NMC cited multiple concerns, including alleged non-compliance with Indian medical education standards, subpar infrastructure, inadequate clinical training, high tuition fees, and instances of student harassment. According to the NMC, all of the institutions in question “did not comply with Indian medical education standards, lacked adequate or functioning campus infrastructure, provided poor quality educational and clinical training, and had instances of harassment of Indian students. Additionally, they reportedly charged excessive fees and refused refunds upon withdrawal from the course.” In response, the Chirchik branch issued an official statement categorically denying the accusations, calling them “unfounded.” The university emphasized that it adheres strictly to academic and clinical guidelines established by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health and the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). Established by presidential decree in July 2023, the branch began full operations in December 2024. It currently enrolls 801 students, including five from India, alongside others from Jordan, Pakistan, and Egypt. The university highlighted its modern facilities, which include fully equipped classrooms, laboratories, simulation centers, and student dormitories. “An open and transparent environment is created for students,” the statement read, underlining a commitment to academic freedom and equal treatment. The Chirchik branch is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, jointly maintained by WFME and FAIMER. It offers English-language medical programs and maintains partnerships with several international universities and clinical institutions. “We take the concerns raised by the NMC seriously,” the university stated. “However, we believe these claims are based on information that has not been verified locally and are unfounded.” The university expressed openness to inspections and dialogue with Indian authorities and reassured students and families of its adherence to global academic standards. “We categorically reject attempts to damage our reputation,” the statement concluded.

Labor Market

Kazakh Schoolchildren Offered Summer Job Opportunities

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Svetlana Zhakupova, announced at a recent government meeting that the ministry is prepared to assist nearly 1.4 million schoolchildren aged 14 to 18 in finding summer employment. Under the country’s Labor Code, minors are permitted to work under certain conditions, including a reduced schedule of no more than 24 hours per week. Importantly, such work must be undertaken outside of school hours. “To facilitate employment, the following measures will be available to students during the upcoming summer holidays: selection of suitable vacancies through the Electronic Labor Exchange, online training programs, public works initiatives, and career guidance services,” Zhakupova stated. The Electronic Labor Exchange, accessible via enbek.kz, now includes a dedicated section titled “My Summer Vacation”, which allows teenagers to register, upload their résumés, and search for job opportunities independently. For students under the age of 16, registration and the creation of a personal account must be handled by a parent or legal guardian. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, approximately 1.8 million young people aged 15 to 28 were employed in Kazakhstan in 2024, a 0.6% increase over the previous year.

Women's Rights

Almaty University Criticized After Female Students Told to Bow to Men

A controversy has erupted at the Kazakh National Pedagogical University (KazNPU) in Almaty after first-year female students were instructed to bow to men during an orientation session. The incident, which triggered widespread criticism, has drawn sharp condemnation on social media and reignited debates about gender roles in Kazakhstani society. According to social media posts, female students were gathered in an auditorium where they were shown a video containing behavioral "recommendations." In the footage, men of varying ages advised young women on how to conduct themselves in public, including avoiding revealing clothing, refraining from loud speech, and bowing to men as a sign of respect. The online response was overwhelmingly critical: “I am for modesty, but bowing? I’m a guy myself, and I don’t support this.” “At this rate, it won’t just be North Korea waiting for us, but Afghanistan too. What’s next, banning women from education?” “Instead of teaching girls about their rights, financial literacy, or where to seek help, they’re being taught useless things, like how to be patient and accommodating.” “Disobedient girls are Kazakhstan’s main problem, aren’t they?” “And when will men be taught not to beat women and to respect their mothers?” The KazNPU administration released a statement in response, promising stricter oversight of educational materials used in student events: “On May 5, an educational session was held at the university to promote national values and enhance the cultural and moral awareness of students, aligned with the ethical philosophy of Abai Kunanbayev. Although similar content has not previously drawn criticism, the video shown during this session sparked a mixed reaction and significant debate. The administration acknowledges the concerns and will exercise heightened caution in selecting materials for such events going forward.” The university also stated that KazNPU is a secular institution committed to upholding students’ rights to personal choice and freedom of expression. The controversy continues to fuel discussions online, highlighting broader tensions between traditional values and contemporary views on gender and education in Kazakhstan. This is not the first time Kazakhstani universities have come under scrutiny. In February 2025, a second-year student at Nazarbayev University in Astana was detained by law enforcement after being caught secretly recording female students in a restroom. The university launched an internal investigation following a public outcry. In another incident, a guest business coach at a university in Almaty, later identified as Aika Aleami, prompted complaints after asking students to close their eyes and sing along to what appeared to be religious music. Aleami later clarified that the exercise was intended as a mindfulness technique, not a religious practice, citing its popularity in Western wellness programs.

Education

Frequent Textbook Revisions Cost Kazakhstan Over $32 Million, Audit Reveals

Frequent reissues of school textbooks have cost Kazakhstan’s state budget more than 16 billion KZT (over $32 million) in the past five years, according to a report by the country’s Supreme Audit Chamber (SAC). “Reforms in educational standards are being carried out unsystematically. Frequent changes in curricula have led to revisions of already issued textbooks and inefficient budget expenditures. Over the past five years, economic losses due to textbook revisions have exceeded 16 billion KZT,” the report stated. Supreme Audit Chamber head Alikhan Smailov explained that the criteria for evaluating textbooks have changed about 12 times in recent years, leading to repeated reprints of secondary school textbooks at the state’s expense. In 2023, the Ministry of Education updated textbooks for third, fifth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh grades, affecting 14 subjects as well as curricula for children with special educational needs. As a result, budget funds were allocated for the purchase of nearly 20 new textbooks aligned with the revised program. Since 2023, a regulation has been in place requiring publishers to cover the cost of reprinting textbooks but only in cases of printing defects or deviations from the approved version reviewed by the expert commission. When changes are made to school curricula, the government remains responsible for financing new textbook editions. The Supreme Audit Chamber believes that many of these revisions stem from deficiencies in the initial expert review of textbooks. Moreover, the expertise process is still not conducted through the public service monitoring system, which would allow for better oversight of its effectiveness. The audit revealed further inefficiencies in budget planning for schools, identifying: 62.4 billion KZT ($126 million) in misallocated funds 1.1 billion KZT ($2.2 million) in financial violations 3.2 billion KZT ($6.4 million) in misuse of public funds One example cited was discrepancies between the Ministry of Labor’s teacher demand forecasts and the actual needs of the education system when allocating funding for teacher training programs. Auditors also found that 66 schools across Kazakhstan, both public and private, were operating without valid licenses for educational activities. Additionally, only 18.2% of schools pass their certification on the first attempt, highlighting systemic weaknesses in school administration. The report also noted serious deficiencies in teacher training, retraining programs, and methodological support for educators. “We have increased financing for secondary education more than threefold in recent years. Given this, the state expects better outcomes from these investments,” said SAC head Smailov. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, one in ten Kazakh emigrants cites the pursuit of better education, both for themselves and their children, as a key reason for leaving the country.

Education

Tajik Migrants Embrace Free English Courses to Pursue Jobs in Europe

Tajikistan has launched a free English online course for migrant workers aiming for employment in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The course, developed in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Smarthub educational platform, is part of the UK Seasonal Worker Program. This initiative provides participants with an opportunity to enhance their language skills at no cost. According to the IOM, over 200 participants have already completed the program. The curriculum covers essential communication skills, ranging from basic phrases and personal introductions to professional vocabulary necessary for workplace interactions. This initiative comes as Tajikistan explores alternative destinations for labor migration, prompted by stricter migration rules in Russia and Western sanctions limiting access to its labor market. Increasing numbers of Tajik workers are finding employment in Germany, Poland, the Baltic States, Romania, and the United Kingdom. In 2023, approximately 1,000 Tajik citizens traveled to the UK for seasonal agricultural work, including fruit and vegetable harvesting.