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Abstract

This paper addresses several educational challenges that Kazakhstan is currently facing, which hinder its progress toward establishing a thriving education system. They include unequal access to quality education across different regions of Kazakhstan, outdated curricula and teaching methods, technological challenges, a shortage of qualified teachers, a lack of inclusion of marginalized and disadvantaged groups, and inadequate funding and research (Kamanga, n.d.). I explain why each of these challenges presents a pressing problem for Kazakhstan’s education system and requires action by the Kazakhstani government. In addition, I present the results of qualitative research conducted with 5 teachers in Kazakhstan, which sought to determine answers to the following questions:

1. Which of the aforementioned problems should the Kazakhstani government address as a top priority and why?

2. What consequences might arise if these problems are not addressed soon?

3. What other issues besides those previously mentioned should the government of Kazakhstan make in its education system in the next 5 years?

The government of Kazakhstan is on course to improve its education system, as evidenced by its plan to spend over one trillion tenge (approximately $1.9 billion) in 2025 on education (Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2024). I argue that Kazakhstan should prioritize using this money to increase teacher salaries, address the disparities between urban and rural schools, and update school and university curricula and technology, as these issues directly impact educational quality, equity, and national development.

My paper sheds light on problems that currently affect Kazakhstan’s system of education, offers insight into the opinions of teachers in Kazakhstan about these issues, and examines the Kazakhstani government’s attempt to rectify these challenges with increased funding. My paper topic deserves attention because today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders, and that means that we must all strive to make them as knowledgeable, skilled, and competent as possible.

References

Kamanga, Joseph. (n.d.) Educational challenges in Kazakhstan. Broken Chalk. https://brokenchalk.org/educational-challenges-in-kazakhstan-2/

Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan. (2024, October 30). Majilis approves law on republican budget for 2025-2027. https://primeminister.kz/en/news/mazhilis-odobril-zakon-o-respublikanskom-byudzhete-na-2025-2027-gody-29247