Kazakhstan upgrades secondary education system

Almaty. July 2. Kazakhstan Today - Kazakhstan takes system measures on modernization of secondary education that are aimed to build a new quality system of schooling and provide the country with competitive human resources, Kazakhstan Today reports.

As Prime Minister press service informs, the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools are to become new growth points in the secondary education system.

"In the course of education system modernization we need to take specific measures. First of all, it is necessary to introduce modern methodologies and techniques into the education process. The Nazarbayev University and the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools are successfully functioning on the basis of international standards today. We should spread their experience through the education system of Kazakhstan in whole," President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev said in his recent Address to the Nation.

On the instruction of the Head of State, 6 Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools have been established and are presently functioning in the country. Another 15 schools are planned to be built by the yearend. Thereat, a network of Intellectual Schools meeting the international standards will be established in the country in the nearest future. These schools will serve as platforms for development, introduction and approbation of new educational program.

Modernization of the secondary education also provides for introduction of electronic learning, trilingual education, 12-year schooling and construction of new schools adapted for 12-year schooling as well as introduction of per-capita financing of education.

One of the main breakthrough projects of the education system upgrade is introduction of e-learning program aimed to become the main mechanism of education system modernization. Thus, e-learning was introduced in 41 education institutions in a pilot mode last year. This year, the program is planned to be introduced in 537 education institutions of the country. It is expected to embrace 90% of education institutions of the country by 2020.

Besides, the work on preparation for introduction of 12-year education is underway. It provides for development of new state education standards and educational programs. Presently, 198 textbooks for primary and secondary school have been written. 12-year education system is tested in 104 schools including 45 rural and 59 urban schools.

Besides, a new program on construction of schools adapted for 12-year schooling is launched in the country. 521 new schools are planned to be built over the next few years.

Another modernization aspect is introduction of trilingual education allowing to educate a generation able to integrate in the global community thanks to obtained linguistic competence. Presently, there are 33 schools with trilingual education approach in Kazakhstan.

Introduction of per-capita financing of education is another important step towards improvement of quality of secondary education. This innovation will provide more equal financing of education in regions. Presently, schools for approbation of this system have been selected.

On the instruction of the President, the National Action Plan on improvement of the functional literacy of school students for 2012-2016 was developed. It includes a set of measures on modernization of existing extended education institutions. Implementation of these measures will result in introduction of innovative forms and techniques of education and ensure fuller embracement of children with extended education.

Further implementation of measures on modernization of secondary education will promote quality structural upgrade of education and increase of competence of the younger generation of the country.

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