At the regular Government session, chaired by the Prime Minister, Alikhan Smailov, the progress in the national project on Quality Education "Educated Nation" implementation was reviewed. The Minister of Education, Askhat Aimagambetov, the Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek, and Akim of West Kazakhstan, Gali Iskaliyev made reports.

Reporting on the implementation of the Quality Education "Educated Nation" national project, Askhat Aimagambetov provided details on the accomplished work. According to him, 12 indicators and 20 measures for kindergartens, schools, colleges and organizations of additional education are to be implemented. So, last year all measures were executed by 100%.

"Of the 10 indicators, 100% have been achieved. For the first six months of this year, the work is on track," the head of the Ministry of Education said.

534 kindergartens were opened in Kazakhstan in 2021, and 47,000 places were opened. As a result, coverage of children aged 2-6 years was 88.4% and 3-6 years 99%.

"However, six regions have not fully implemented their plans. For example, 14,000 places of kindergartens were opened last year in the Almaty region, and 5,000 places in the city of Almaty. This is a good indicator. In similar highly populated regions of Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions about 1,000 places were opened. It is not enough. Due to overfulfillment of the plan and additional open places in other regions, for example, by 170% in Shymkent city and 120% in Zhambyl region, we fully achieved the level of the republican indicator," Aimagambetov explained.

322 kindergartens with 34,000 places are planned to be opened by the end of this year. 140 kindergartens with 12,900 places were opened at the end of the first half of the year.

Along with coverage, work is also being done to update kindergarten programmes. This is a particularly important area. A new preschool education model and a new state standard have been approved.

"The kindergartens will educate children who are self-confident, resilient, healthy, open-minded and creative-minded. The development of children will be aimed at fostering patriotism, industriousness, curiosity through play, physical activity and creativity. Work is being done to raise the qualifications of kindergarten teachers and to strengthen requirements for kindergartens," he said.

Coverage of additional education is very important for the education sector. Last year, the target of 69.4% coverage was achieved, and this year we intend to increase coverage to more than 75%. Currently, there are 1,500 supplementary education organizations and 63,000 clubs and sports sections. The state orders began to be allocated in order to increase the availability of additional education for the first time since last year. This is a very effective mechanism.

Regarding the secondary education, the Minister of Education noted that the main problem there was improving the quality of education. Work is being done to reduce the gap in the quality of education between the regions, urban and rural schools.

"For quality assessment, we make extensive use of external and internal monitoring mechanisms. The international PISA study is very important to us in this respect. Within the framework of this National Project, we have launched a special international PISA for Schools study. Due to the pandemic, the PISA study predicted by international experts identified risks of a 30-40 point drop in the country's scores.

However, the results of the 2021 PISA for Schools showed that the quality of education for schoolchildren increased by 30 points in reading literacy, by 24 points in mathematics, and by 11 points in science. This is a very good indicator," the head of the Ministry of Education stressed.

The gap between urban and rural students has narrowed by 22 points, and between Russian and Kazakh language students by 21 points.

Also, according to Aimagambetov, issues of safety and creation of comfortable conditions in educational organizations are under constant control. 8 Psychological-Medical-Pedagogical Commissions and 6 correction rooms were opened in 2021 in order to increase the coverage of children with disabilities with special psychological and pedagogical support and early correction, and another 3 Psychological-Medical-Pedagogical Commissions and 4 correction rooms were opened this year. As a result, 175,000 children with special educational needs are covered by special psychological and pedagogical support.

"As of this year, for the first time, we have started placing a state order to support children with special needs. This solution will reduce waiting lists and increase access to equal educational services for children in need," he said.

In 2021, 1,015 schools in small towns, district centres and villages have been modernised. The plan has been achieved. In particular, major repairs have been made in 806 schools, subject classrooms have been purchased for 597 schools, furniture in 684 schools has been renewed and 48 school canteens have been refurbished. This year, the outlined work will continue.

"An additional 1,003 schools will be modernised in 2022. Each region has clearly assigned indicators. Local executive bodies should intensify their work within the framework of this indicator," Askhat Aimagambetov said.

The Minister of Education also added that recently, in dilapidated schools that were not repaired on time, there had been cases of emergency situations and the number of catastrophically dangerous situations had increased. Only due to the fact that the mentioned events took place after school hours, the threat to pupils' lives was avoided. In this regard, all Akimats should conduct appropriate technical audits of schools that were built more than 50 years ago.

According to the Minister, the provision of subject classrooms in schools plays an important role in improving the quality of education. In 2021, 949 schools are scheduled to buy 1,825 subject classrooms.

This year 70% of schools will be provided with subject classrooms for physics, chemistry, biology, STEM. In Atyrau, Ulytau, Zhambyl regions and Almaty city the stated need for allocation of funds has not been approved by the budget committee, which creates risks of non-implementation of the indicator.

In order to provide schools with a comfortable, safe and modern educational environment, 277 new schools with 163,000 pupil places will be opened in 2021. At the same time, 10 regions did not meet the target of 42 new schools and 21,514 pupil places. At present, there is an increase in three-shift and emergency schools, which is why the indicator is considered risky.

The construction of 225 schools for 214,000 pupils is scheduled to be completed in 2022, of which 49 schools for 22,000 pupils have been commissioned so far. To solve this problem, the akimats need to take the necessary measures to ensure that the deadlines for school commissioning are not compromised.

Within the framework of implementation of the instructions of the Head of State on 100% coverage of free technical and vocational education by 45,000 places at the expense of the national budget, the state order has been increased to 128,000 places.

"First of all, free technical and professional education for in-demand specialties with a technical orientation is planned to cover graduates of 9th grades. However, in regions with a large share of NEET youth there is a reduction in the number of grants allocated from the local budget," Aimagambetov said.

The President has instructed the regional akimats to implement targeted training at the request of businesses. The State trains specialists free of charge, while enterprises undertake to employ them. For the first time, 10,000 targeted grants have been awarded.

The colleges have been given academic autonomy in order to improve staff training. Educational programmes are being developed jointly with employers and training periods have been changed. 100% of State colleges have been sponsored by enterprises. A number of innovations have been introduced for admission to colleges. A compulsory vocational diagnosis of graduates is provided for when choosing a speciality. Based on the results, applicants are advised on the choice of speciality.

"The process of distributing the state orders to students has been automated. Entrance examinations have been abolished. Applicants are given the opportunity to master 1 to 3 qualifications. With the state support, 180 colleges equipped under the Zhas Maman project have updated their curricula, installed appropriate modern equipment, and received a new impetus for quality training," Aimagambetov said.

The project on Quality Education "Educated Nation" is being implemented to improve the competitiveness and international image of the higher education system. This was announced by the Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek.

This will enable the implementation of internationally accredited global education programmes and expand academic exchanges with foreign partners. By 2025, there will be branches of five leading foreign universities in operation.

The total enrolment for the academic year 2021-2022 is 623,839. The total number of HEIs is 120. The employment rate of graduates for 2021 is 68.9%. The total number of teaching staff is 36,000.

"The number of grants has been increased from 65,000 in 2020 to 88,000 in 2022, as instructed by the Head of State. The amount of scholarships for students is also increasing. Thus, for undergraduate students 36,000 tenge is provided, 150,000 tenge is provided for doctoral students. By 2025, student stipends will increase twofold, and for master's and doctoral students 1.5 fold," the head of the Ministry of Science said.

He also noted that the main focus of higher education is on training specialists (92%), with 5.8% at master's level and only 0.94% at doctoral level.

The key indicator in the field of higher and postgraduate education is the inclusion of two domestic universities in the top 200 of the international QS ranking. Over the 9 years of universities' participation in the prestigious QS ranking there has been a positive trend. If in 2013 8 higher educational institutions participated, then today their number has doubled. In 2022, 16 Kazakhstani universities were included in the rating. Of these, 5 universities were included in the top 500: Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Gumilyov ENU, Auezov SKU, Satpayev KazNITU and KazNAU. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University was included in the top 200.

"This is the result of the hard work of Kazakhstani universities. As they have to achieve these positions in conditions of fierce competition with the world's top universities. At the same time, we see a trend of constant growth in the number of universities participating in the ranking," Nurbek stressed.

He also spoke briefly about the results of the indicators.

The first indicator "Implementation of international education programmes" was fulfilled in 2021 and amounts to 30%. For the current period, this indicator is also fulfilled.

The second target in 2021 was not reached due to health restrictions on travel during the pandemic. Some citizens were not able to arrive. This year the target is 100% achieved.

The third indicator is that at least 5 branches of foreign HEIs (universities) should have been opened by 2025. One branch was opened in 2021 and 3 branches of foreign HEIs will be launched this year.

The National Project envisages the implementation of activities aimed at achieving key indicators and targets. Measures have been taken to establish Centres of Academic Excellence. Fifteen regional and five teacher training universities have been selected. State investment proposals have been developed for their financing and positive conclusions by the Ministry of National Economy have been received. Financial and economic feasibility studies have been developed. The creation of the Centres of Academic Excellence has been elaborated with the local executive bodies, applications of akimats have been received.

In order to form a research ecosystem and develop breakthrough technologies, there are plans to transform universities into research universities. Thus, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University has been granted the status of a research university. Development programmes and a draft decree have been prepared for the transformation of the Gumilyov ENU into a research university. Work is underway on the transformation of Auezov SKU into a research university

A Lifelong Learning Concept has been adopted to ensure lifelong learning. The update of the National Qualifications Framework to ensure recognition of non-formal education is underway.

Certificates and credits obtained through non-formal education will be transferred to a Stackable degree. The possibility of acquiring micro-qualifications will be introduced.

One important aspect of internationalisation is the academic mobility programme. Academic mobility of teachers in 2021 was 273, in 2022 it was 174. The reason for the decline is the severe restrictive measures in a pandemic environment.

Over the 10 years of the programme's implementation, more than 17,000 Kazakh students have studied in foreign partner universities. Thus, in the first half of 2022 the number of students trained under this programme was 2,320, in 2021 it was 3,246.

Branches of foreign universities are being opened in order to introduce global educational standards and best practices into the educational process.

A branch of De Montfort Leicester University opens in 2021. A branch of the University of Arizona opens in Petropavlovsk. As part of the cooperation with the university, two-degree educational programmes will be launched.

In pursuance of the Head of State's instructions, branches of Russian universities are being opened. For example, a branch of the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas is being opened at the Atyrau University of Oil and Gas named after Utebayev.

A branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI is opening in Almaty at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

There are also plans to open Michigan State University in Nur-Sultan in 2023.

Government regulations have been adopted for the operation of the branches. A state educational order has been allocated.

Intensive work is underway to improve the competitiveness of higher education. The main vectors for the further development of education have already been identified.

Key areas of focus:

- updating educational programmes to reflect the professions of the future

- development of university infrastructure

- development of the digital ecosystem of higher education institutions

- opening of foreign universities campuses

- opening of Kazakh universities branches abroad

- further expanding of the academic and managerial autonomy of HEIs.

According to the West Kazakhstan Region Akim, Gali Iskaliyev, there are 381 schools in the region, 215 of which are small.

"Before 1980, 198 schools were built, which is 52% of all schools, 48% of which were built from adobe and are in a pre-emergency condition. At present, there are 10 three-shift and six emergency schools in the region," he informed.

To meet these challenges, a model school for 60 pupils has been designed at a cost of 850 million tenge and for 108 pupils at a cost of 1,100 million tenge.

25 schools will be built this year:

• six of them will be commissioned at the expense of the budget before the end of the year;
• 3 will open with private investment;
• construction of 15 small schools is underway as part of KPO b.v.'s social commitment;
• 1 school will be built as part of the emergency response;
• 2 schools will be built by private investors.

By the end of the year, 6 schools will be commissioned at the expense of the budget and 3 private schools will be opened. As a result, the issue of 3 emergency schools, 2 with a deficit of pupil places and 3 schools with three shifts will be resolved.

In 2021, 261 subject classrooms and furniture for 64 schools included in the modernisation will be purchased from the local budget. This year, the modernisation of 63 schools will be addressed.

"The ongoing work is underway to acquire subject classrooms and furniture for the region's schools. The work to provide these schools with modern furniture and subject classrooms will continue," the regional head concluded.