The briefing of the republican information headquarters with the participation of representatives of the ministries of education, science and higher education of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held in the Central Communications Service. 

Deputy Minister of Education Yedil Ospan made a report on the organisation of the educational process during the flood control period.

Thus, the department continues to work on the placement of children in children's health centres. Children from West Kazakhstan region arrived to the national health centre of Almaty city. More than 80 children were accommodated in the camp ‘Zhasdauren’ of Akmola region. 

In total, 11 children's recreation centres will receive 600 children from West Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Akmola and Aktobe regions in the first flow. 

As the Deputy Minister informed during the report, the Ministry of Education together with ‘KTZ’ has organised free travel for children to the recreation centres. Schoolchildren are provided with all necessary school supplies for quality education, food and clothing. 

According to the speaker, for children who were in evacuation points, the issue of accommodation in dormitories of innovative schools-lyceums of republican importance with the organisation of educational process is being worked out. In addition, specialised schools ‘Daryn’ began to receive them. 

"We express our special gratitude to teachers and all workers of the education sector. Today, about 20 thousand education workers participate in flood control measures as volunteers, including more than 10 thousand in evacuation points," Deputy Minister of Education Ospan emphasised during the briefing. 

At the same time, more than 300 school psychologists are working in the field to provide psychological assistance to children and victims. Active work of the Child Rights Ombudspersons has been organised. Children from the affected villages have been provided with the necessary school supplies and technical means for distance learning.

Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Talgat Yeshenkulov made a report on the organisation of the educational process in universities during the flood control period.

Currently, universities located in the regions where the state of emergency was declared, were not affected by the flood. As noted by the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, there are no destructions and threats. The Ministry has instructed all universities not to allow students to enter dangerous areas and warn them about safety measures. All management of higher education and science organisations have been put in emergency mode. 

According to Talgat Yeshenkulov, the Ministry conducts daily monitoring of universities in the affected regions. 

"The educational process in universities is carried out in the normal mode. Only Atyrau University named after H. Dosmukhamedov has switched to online education. H. Dosmukhamedov in connection with the emergency regime," the speaker said. 

As explained by the Deputy Minister, in this university, the educational process for students transferred to online format from 8 April 2024 until the stabilisation of the situation. Currently, the contingent of students is 8 thousand people. Nonresident students were temporarily allowed to stay at their place of residence. 

"Higher educational institutions are involved in the fight against the elements. Universities show an active civic position. Students are voluntarily working to distribute humanitarian aid within the city limits. More than 5,000 students and university staff have formed volunteer teams in the regions where flooding is taking place," T. Yeshenkulov said.

A group of volunteers from 450 students and 50 faculty members of Aktobe Regional University named after K. Zhubanov, 100 volunteers of Kostanay Regional University named after A. Baitursynov assist in transportation-delivery of necessary household goods in humanitarian centres, reception of humanitarian aid from other regions. 

Also in Atyrau University named after Dosmukhamedov a special volunteer group was created, which includes more than 2880 people from among students, as well as 200 employees of the university. 

About 300 volunteers of Atyrau Oil and Gas University named after S. Utebayev are taking part in flood control works. 

"On the assignment of the operational headquarters of Atyrau region, the university is building a dam to protect against flood waters in the village of Almaly adjacent to the city. To increase its strength, students have prepared more than 20,000 sandbags at an accelerated pace," Deputy Minister Talgat Yeshenkulov said during the report.

Students and teachers of Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrotechnical University help daily as volunteers and are also involved in sandbagging. The number of people willing to help the victims is growing daily. 

"The regions are actively working on settling those affected by the flood in the dormitories of universities. In total for today universities are ready to provide 1160 places in dormitories for settling evacuees. These are such universities as Rudnya Industrial University, ZKATU named after Zhangir Khan, Caspian University of Technology and Engineering named after Sh. Esenov, AU named after Kh. Dosmukhamedov and others," T. Yeshenkulov said during the briefing.

Thus, in Rudnya Industrial University and West-Kazakh Agrotechnical University named after Zhangir Khan 100 places in dormitories have been prepared.

Rudnya Industrial University has 4 equipped classrooms of up to 150 square metres each. They are not used in the educational process, but it is planned to organise education of children from the affected regions in these classrooms. 

Atyrau University named after H. Dosmukhamedov. Kh. Dosmukhamedov Atyrau University is ready to provide 860 places in dormitories evacuated from the city of Kulsary. As of today, 445 people have been placed in dormitories of universities. 

Talgat Yeshenkulov also noted that the Caspian University of Technology and Engineering named after Sh. Esenov and West Kazakhstan University named after M. Utemisov have prepared dormitories for the students. M. Utemisov prepared 300 places each for the victims from the city of Kulsary. 138 people have been accommodated there.

KU named after M. Utemisov provided 1 dormitory for 300 places, where evacuated residents were fully settled.

"Psychological assistance is being provided to the victims on the ground. Professors, masters and students of the departments of psychology and pedagogy conduct psychological trainings and provide practical support to families in evacuation points," the Deputy Minister said.

More than 50 artists and 12 teachers of the professional creative faculty of Aktobe Regional University named after K. Zhubanov conducted master classes on art therapy and drawing for children.

A work plan for the headquarters has now been developed. The Ministry together with universities is working to assist the population on a permanent basis, summarised his report Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education Talgat Yeshenkulov.