Kazakhstan President Tokayev outlines education reform priorities

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has outlined new priorities for Kazakhstan’s education system, emphasizing the need to prepare youth for a digital economy. Speaking at the annual August Conference of Teachers, Tokayev stated that the nation must move away from narratives centered on historical grievances to foster a generation of confident, forward-looking individuals.

A primary directive from the President is the rapid construction of high-quality schools, particularly in regions currently facing shortages of educational facilities. He characterized this as a task of national importance and instructed that work begin without delay starting next year.

Tokayev also addressed the quality of systemic changes, cautioning against “empty, content-free reforms” implemented solely for the sake of change. He called for rigorous analysis to ensure all reforms are effective and do not unnecessarily stress educators. Furthermore, the President demanded that teachers be relieved of excessive paperwork, intrusive certification procedures, and non-educational responsibilities, such as repair work or unrelated public events.