education system - The Times Of Central Asia

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Education reform

Kazakhstan Reshapes Education System to Meet Industrial and Labor Market Needs

Kazakhstan has begun a large-scale restructuring of its education system in 2025-2026 as authorities attempt to address labor shortages, overloaded school infrastructure, and the growing mismatch between graduates’ qualifications and the needs of the economy. While previous reforms focused primarily on expanding access to education, the government is now shifting toward tighter administrative management of student enrollment, stronger support for technical and vocational training, and the integration of digital technologies into schools. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the reforms are unfolding amid growing pressure on Kazakhstan’s labor market. One of the most pressing issues remains the condition of the country’s school infrastructure. Rapid urbanization and internal migration have created chronic shortages of school places in major cities and southern regions. To address the problem, authorities launched the “Comfortable School” national project, which envisioned the construction of 369 schools with capacity for 740,000 students during 2023-2024. However, implementation has faced delays caused by contractor failures and rising construction material costs. According to project operator Samruk-Kazyna Construction, by the end of 2025 authorities had commissioned 208 schools, creating more than 217,000 new student places. Most of the facilities were built in Astana, Almaty, and Turkistan Region. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev previously warned that even accelerated school construction would only temporarily alleviate the problem, since at current population growth rates the shortage of school places could reach 400,000 in the medium term. Against this backdrop, authorities are increasingly turning to technological solutions. In May 2026, Tokayev signed a decree introducing artificial intelligence into the secondary education system. Under the initiative, AI technologies are expected to serve as auxiliary tools for personalized learning, identifying gaps in student knowledge, and reducing teachers’ workloads. By August 1, schools participating in the pilot program are expected to be equipped with high-speed internet access, while by September 1 authorities plan to approve national standards governing the use of AI in education. At the same time, Kazakhstan is strengthening support for technical and vocational education. For the 2025-2026 academic year, around 70% of state-funded grants in the technical and vocational education system were allocated to engineering and technical specialties, including metallurgy, mechanical engineering, energy, construction, and information technology. Authorities are also attempting to expand elements of dual education programs involving private businesses. According to official data, more than 4,000 enterprises have established partnerships with colleges. However, full-scale implementation remains largely confined to major industrial regions, while small and medium-sized businesses in other areas remain reluctant to participate in organizing practical training for students. Significant changes are also affecting higher education. Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek announced a redistribution of state grants toward professions facing the most acute labor shortages, including thermal power engineering, industrial engineering, water management, and materials science. University financing will now depend directly on institutions’ positions in national rankings and on graduate employment rates. For weaker regional universities, this could effectively mean automatic reductions in state funding. Leading universities have also been granted the right to independently raise admission thresholds...

TCA Interviews

Why More Students in Kazakhstan Choose to Study Abroad

An increasing number of students in Kazakhstan are considering education abroad. For some, it offers access to high-quality academic programs; for others, it provides opportunities to gain international experience, learn new languages, and improve career prospects. Interest in foreign universities is growing among school graduates and their parents, who increasingly view overseas education as an investment in their children’s future. According to the Bureau of National Statistics, 678,100 students were enrolled in higher education institutions in Kazakhstan at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year. At the same time, data from the International Trade Administration indicate that more than 90,000 Kazakhstani citizens are currently studying abroad. Sanzhar Uvashev, an employee of InterPress Abroad, a company that assists applicants seeking admission to foreign universities, spoke about the factors influencing students’ choices and the opportunities offered by international education. TCA: Tell us about your work. What does your organization do? Uvashev: Our company helps students apply to universities abroad. We support applicants in selecting academic programs, preparing documents, and navigating the entire admissions process. One of our distinguishing features is that we are not limited to a specific list of partner institutions or countries. We can assist students in applying to a wide range of universities, depending on their individual preferences. TCA: Which countries are currently the most popular destinations? Uvashev: We work with a broad range of destinations, particularly the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, as well as countries across Europe and Asia. Recently, students have shown greater interest in exploring multiple options rather than focusing on a single country. Some prioritize studying in an English-speaking environment, others seek more affordable tuition, while some focus on scholarship opportunities and employment prospects after graduation. TCA: What opportunities exist today for students from Central Asia to study abroad? Uvashev: Opportunities are expanding. Many universities are paying closer attention to applicants from Central Asia, as international students contribute to a more diverse academic environment. As a result, institutions are offering scholarships, tuition discounts, and preparatory programs. Awareness of the region is growing, and with it the range of options available to students. TCA: Why do students continue to choose the U.S. and other destinations? Uvashev: The U.S. remains one of the most popular destinations because of its strong universities and perceived career opportunities. At the same time, countries such as Italy, Austria, and China are also attracting interest. Italy and Austria appeal to students because public universities there can offer relatively affordable, and in some cases almost free, education. China has gained popularity due to the quality of its universities, their rising positions in global rankings, and the availability of scholarships for international students. TCA: Are there programs that allow students to study free of charge? Uvashev: Yes. Students often inquire about scholarship schemes that significantly reduce tuition fees or cover them entirely. Examples include the Bolashak international scholarship program, Stipendium Hungaricum, and Erasmus Mundus. These initiatives provide talented applicants with real opportunities to obtain an education abroad, provided they are well...

Education

Kazakhstan Aims to Redefine the Role and Status of Teachers

Kazakhstan is preparing sweeping changes to the role of teachers, aiming to significantly strengthen their legal protections and professional autonomy. The proposals, announced at an educators' conference in August, are being described by experts as revolutionary for the country’s education system. Protecting Teachers' Rights President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev participated in the conference and proposed amendments to the Law on the Status of Teachers to shield educators from non-core responsibilities. “The issue of protecting teachers' rights should always be a priority,” said Tokayev. “Teachers must be exempt from tasks unrelated to their primary duties. Unfortunately, local authorities often grossly violate the law in this regard. The Prosecutor’s Office must take strict action against such violations.” In many post-Soviet countries, it has been common for teachers to be assigned duties unrelated to education. In Kazakhstan, for instance, teachers are often tasked with running polling stations during elections or referendums, ensuring voter turnout, cleaning school premises, organizing community celebrations, and more. Tokayev also spoke out against holding teachers accountable for incidents outside school grounds. “It is inappropriate to immediately punish teachers for any accident involving children,” he stated. “If an incident occurs outside school or due to parental negligence, the teacher should not be held responsible.” He referred to a recent case in the Almaty region, where a graduate died in a fight at a private residence. The school’s principal and teachers were dismissed, but the Ministry of Education later intervened on their behalf. Responsibility Within the School While calling for greater protections, Tokayev also emphasized the critical role of teachers within school walls. He urged educators to take active roles in combating social issues such as drug and gambling addiction, domestic violence, bullying, vandalism, and dependency. Teaching has long been one of Kazakhstan’s least attractive professions due to high workloads and low pay. However, since 2019, the education budget has tripled, 1,200 new schools have opened, and teacher salaries have doubled. More than 500,000 teachers now receive performance-based bonuses. Fighting Dependency and Exploitation Kazakh political analyst Marat Shibutov emphasized the importance of ending the exploitation of teachers and addressing broader societal issues such as dependency. “At a meeting with teachers, the president spoke out against parasitism, which has become widespread, especially in rural areas, where social benefits discourage work and promote idleness,” Shibutov said. “Some families even avoid treating disabled children to retain their benefits.” He added that around 60 children had fallen from windows in Astana since the start of the year, yet the blame is often shifted to the state rather than to parents, who bear responsibility for safety at home. “Dependency is more than just a lifestyle, it’s an ideology of aggressive laziness eating away at youth,” he said. On the issue of non-core assignments, Shibutov remarked: “It’s time to get rid of Soviet relics, teachers are not free labor or child supervisors”. A Remedy in Mathematics Political analyst Gaziz Abishev called for deeper educational reforms to address the psychological and cognitive vulnerabilities of young people in the digital age....

Education

Tokayev Urges Equal Education Standards Across Urban and Rural Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for narrowing the gap in education quality between urban and rural schools and accelerating the integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) into the country's education system. Speaking at the annual August Teachers' Conference, Tokayev emphasized that building a modern, inclusive nation requires equal opportunities for all children, regardless of geography. “All children must have equal opportunities. Therefore, an important task is to eliminate inequality in the quality of education in cities and villages,” he stated. Over the past four years, the material and technical infrastructure of more than 4,000 rural schools has been upgraded. Still, Tokayev stressed that this progress must be complemented by digital transformation, including the introduction of AI into the curriculum. “The concepts of ‘progressive nation’ and ‘technological nation’ are synonymous today,” he said, adding that digitalization is central to improving educational outcomes. Currently, over 95% of schools in Kazakhstan are connected to high-speed internet. Tokayev has instructed that this figure reach 100%, potentially through the use of Starlink satellite technology. “This is not just a technical issue, but a principle of social justice,” he added. The president also noted that advanced technologies will support the development of an inclusive education environment, particularly benefiting children with special needs. Several core educational services in Kazakhstan have already been digitized, including school and college admissions, inter-school transfers, and the Bilim service on the eGov mobile platform. However, Tokayev underscored the need to further equip schools with interactive tools and ensure universal access to digital platforms and electronic textbooks. The president placed particular emphasis on early instruction in AI technologies and continuous professional development for teachers. “Teachers must not only know their subject, but also be able to apply new technologies,” he said. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the latest PISA assessment noted improvements in education access across Central Asia but highlighted a decline in academic performance among students in the region.

Education

Kyrgyzstan Eases Licensing Rules to Expand Private School Sector

The Kyrgyz government is taking steps to simplify the licensing process for private schools in response to a growing shortage of student places in the country’s public education system, particularly in urban centers such as Bishkek and Osh. On August 4, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliyev announced a reform initiative aimed at easing regulatory requirements for licensing private institutions offering primary education. The goal, he stated, is to expand access to quality education and alleviate pressure on the overburdened public school network. Kasymaliyev noted that rapid population growth has led to severe overcrowding in schools in major cities, where students are often taught in three shifts instead of the standard two, negatively affecting learning outcomes. “Addressing the shortage of school places is a key priority for the government,” Kasymaliyev said. While new public schools are under construction, he emphasized that the private sector plays an important role in meeting rising demand. Kyrgyzstan currently has 219 private schools, with 108 located in Bishkek and 54 in Osh. In 2024, 33 licenses were issued to private education providers, and 21 more have been granted since the beginning of 2025. “We see strong interest from the private sector in the education field, particularly in large cities,” Kasymaliyev said. “Creating real opportunities for opening high-quality private schools is one of our tasks.” The reform is part of a broader initiative to improve educational access and quality amid demographic expansion and urbanization. Class sizes in Bishkek far exceed recommended limits, according to educators. “The average class size in Bishkek is 36 to 45 students, while the sanitary norm is up to 35,” a deputy director of a public school in the capital told The Times of Central Asia. “In some popular schools, the number exceeds 50.”

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.