Education System in Kazakhstan

Primary Education

Schooling is mandatory in Kazakhstan and this reflects in a national literacy rate of over 99%. The 5 grades of primary school begin at age 6. Two groups of children attend morning and afternoon shifts respectively per school, in order to share facilities. The ministry of education prescribes the curriculum, and this applies to both private and public schools.

Middle Education

Students continue with their education program at lower secondary school for 4 years through to grade 9. A general academic curriculum includes Russian or Kazach depending on location, plus biology, chemistry, history, mathematics, physics, and a foreign language.

Secondary Education

There are three options for the concluding 3 years at secondary school. These include general education at a lyceum or gymnasium, vocational education at a professional lyceum or vocational school, and professional education at a professional college. Education costs continue to be largely funded by the state.

Vocational Education

An ad-hoc training company is being established to oversee the development of vocational training in Kazakhstan through an unfolding network of institutions to complement current structures. It is intended that this become a kingpin in the nation’s emerging industrialization program. 

Tertiary Education

A variety of tertiary institutions attend to Kazakhstan’s higher education needs, including universities, academies, institutes, higher schools and colleges, and conservatories. Secondary school teachers complete 5-year specialist diplomas at university too. The nations 2 top universities are al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty and Eurasian National University located in Astana. Of these, the former is the oldest, having been originally established in 1933 under a different name. It has over 20,000 enrolled students supported by 2,500 faculty staff, and has embarked on an ambitious expansion program.