The academic year in Kazakh schools will start from changes – trilingual form of education will be canceled. This decision was made in line with the analysis of domestic and international experts, which showed that primary school children find it difficult to learn three languages at once. Thus, first-graders will first learn their native language, then, in the second grade, Kazakh or Russian will be added. The English language will be added to the curriculum in the third grade. This was announced by the Education Minister Askhat Aimagambetov. He also spoke about innovations in preschool education. He noted that it is extremely important to tighten the requirements for the safety of children.
“There are facts of assaults in kindergartens; requirements for child safety, their education and upbringing are not met. This won’t work. We need to tighten the requirements. First is the mandatory installation of video surveillance cameras everywhere. The second is the obligatory observance of sanitary rules and fire safety regulations. It will not do to conduct classes for 25 children in nine square meters. The third issue is the qualification of educators. Kindergartens cannot just hire a person off the street to work with the children,” said Askhat Aimagambetov, Kazakh Minister of Education.
High school students will enjoy another innovation. Now winners of international Olympiads will be exempt from taking the high school graduation exam. They will automatically be given scholarships to study at domestic universities. In addition, up to 4.5 million tenge will be paid to winners of international intellectual competitions. Their teachers will receive the prize money as well.
