Images | Akorda
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a package of laws introducing amendments in the areas of education, healthcare, child protection, teachers’ status, and anti-corruption policy.
According to the Akorda presidential press service, the head of state signed the law "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Issues of Teachers’ Status, Education, Healthcare and Child Protection," as well as the law "On Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Issues of Teachers’ Status."
The new provisions stipulate that teachers will be responsible for students only during the educational process. At the same time, parents’ responsibility for the life, health and safety of their children is being expanded.
The legislation also prohibits teachers from maintaining duplicate reporting systems in both paper and electronic formats. In addition, unified rules for the use of mobile devices in secondary education institutions are being introduced. The measures also provide for greater involvement of schoolchildren in scientific activities at the local government level.
The law further establishes a legal framework aimed at creating favourable conditions for the effective operation of leading foreign universities in Kazakhstan. Branch campuses will be allowed to operate provided they comply with Kazakhstan’s state educational standards.
A separate set of amendments is focused on improving the higher education system. The reforms introduce an integrated medical education model consisting of six years of university study followed by one year of full internship training. Upon completion, graduates will be eligible to begin medical practice, with the internship serving as a stage of clinical training.
Tokayev also signed the law "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Anti-Corruption Issues."
The adopted measures introduce criminal liability not only for giving and receiving bribes, but also for promising, offering or soliciting a bribe. Penalties are being strengthened for unlawful remuneration in state organisations and quasi-public sector entities, while administrative liability for legal entities involved in corruption offences is also being increased.
In addition, the statute of limitations for administrative corruption offences committed by individuals has been extended from one year to three years. Restrictions on individuals convicted of corruption crimes have also been clarified, including a lifetime ban on employment in positions involving the performance of state functions.
The legislation further prohibits civil servants and individuals with equivalent status from using their official powers for personal gain. It also introduces mandatory declarations of personal interests and establishes clear procedures for addressing conflicts of interest.
Restrictions on the employment of relatives and affiliated persons within the same public service structures have been tightened. These restrictions will apply not only to cases of direct subordination, but also to situations involving indirect influence, personnel oversight and internal control functions. In particular, relatives of senior officials - including nephews, sons-in-law and other close family members by marriage - will be prohibited from working within the same government agency.
The scope of anti-corruption restrictions has also been expanded. The new provisions will now apply to employees of the quasi-public sector and participants in projects financed through the state budget and Kazakhstan’s National Fund.
