Development of Kazakh Education System

Some basics from a stellar presentation we had about Kazakh education system by a very entertaining teacher, Ms. Nadia Trubova. (photos came from exhibitions at the Kazakh National Museum that we toured today as well). 

Before 1900, Kazakhstan was a nomadic nation.

People moved from place to place for food.  People were divided by tribes & clans because those were smaller units and could feed and work more efficiently.   

 Their homes were on the steppe and many lived in yurts.  Kids learned by doing because specific skill sets were required to live this type of life.

Islam arrived in Kazakhstan in the 8th century when Arabs traveled there.  Reading and memorization of the Quran were part of this faith.  Hence, the need to teach formalized reading and writing skills was introduced into Kazakh culture.

Education In The Soviet Era
(following pictures were taken in Panfilov Park, Almaty Kazakhstan.   The park is named for the Panfilov Heroes, commemorated at the fearsome war memorial east of the cathedral. This represents the 28 soldiers of an Almaty infantry unit who died fighting off Nazi tanks in a village outside Moscow in 1941. An eternal flame commemorating the fallen of 1917-20 (the Civil War) and 1941-45 (WWII), flickers in front of the giant black monument of soldiers from all 15 Soviet republics bursting out of a map of the USSR.)

Russians came to Kazakhstan as a stabilizing factor to stop in-fighting between the different tribes and clans under "control" of Mongol khanates. 

 The Russian Empire went on to colonize areas of Kazakhstan by sending Russian settlement to northern Kazakhstan, forcing nomads to give up their roaming lifestyles due to scarcity of water and food sources taken up by newly settled towns. 

 After 1921, The Soviet Period in Kazakhstan starts (after the Russian Civil War) and the Communist system makes education mandatory and is totally controlled by the Russians.  Major improvements to schools were made and many more were built. 

 Every child strived to do their best.  Students achieved "October Kid" if they studied hard, paid attention and learned their lessons well.  They were rewarded with the title, recognition and a pin of Vladmir Lenin.  Next level was "Pioneer" which successful students earned themselves a handkerchief that symbolized their hard work and achievements.  It was to be ironed every day and worn proudly.  The title of Komsomol was given to oldest achieving students which put them in The Committee of Soviet Youth.  The best and brightest students were later given a ticket to the Communist Party.  You had to have a party ticket to become any type of a leader in the Soviet Union.  

Bad behavior in school was punished using collective action by peers.  If something was vandalized, the entire class cleaned it.  Propaganda songs were used and both of the presenters in the room broke out and sang the same exact song word for word even though they were about 25 years apart in age.  They knew it by heart still to this day.  When asked if she thought the system oppressive, our presenter replied that she did not.  "It gave a feeling of being proud.  Of doing something good for your country and good for your parents."  High rates of abuse were characteristic of this period within homes if children were not performing up to par as this was seen as shameful to the good name of the family and active participation in the Communist state.

The good thing about education under the Soviets is that it was comprehensive.  Students studied classics, music, art, architecture.  Food was always paid for in school.  Children were given free access to pools, healthcare, sports of all kinds.  Total literacy was pushed and they were successful.  Russian was the implemented language in all schools.  All students had same textbooks and the same standards across the board.  It was very clear.  Students with any learning disabilities or any physical disabilities were home schooled with tutors provided by the government. 

The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.   Like other former Soviet Republics, Kazakhstan had to take its education system, and start over.  Schools stayed open under governmental control, but no money was around.  Until 1999, there were no salaries for teachers or school staff, no supplies, no books, and no clothing help for students who needed it.  This period of transition is going on 22 years today but things have come a very long way.  Kazakh education echoed Soviet model in areas of math, sciences & teaching of Russian language.  Top managers in the education system were sent abroad and introduced experiments in Kazakh system.  Specialized profile schools were set up based on student strengths & interests.  Parents started to kick in money to help improve local area schools.  Now that people could travel outside of Russia, they did.  And they brought back ideas about what they saw such as playing educational games in class, debating, asking students to think and answer opinion based questions, and creating school theaters and plays.    Peace Corps volunteers were invited in to work with schools. 

Present Look

5 million children 0-18 years old go to school in Kazakhstan.
48% girls, 52% boys

Structure

Pre-Primary - Ages 1-5
Primary - Grades 1-4 (Ages 6-10)                                Mandatory under law
Principal Secondary - Grades 5-9 (Ages 11-16)
You can go to vocational school here or take college track.  Exit exams are mandatory at the end of these years.  They are written and oral examinations that cover subjects like Russian, math, history and language.  

Secondary - 17+ General, technical or vocational schools

OR

Tertiary - University levels.  You can take entrance exams and if you score well enough skip over some of your university.  You are entered based on knowledge demonstrated.

There is a special Presidential Tertiary Award that is given to 200 students each year in Kazakhstan.  It enables students to study abroad and pays for travel, tuition, room & board.  The agreement is that these students will come back with what they learned and work in Kazakhstan for a period of at least 5 years.

Average number of students in the classroom - 30