High level of education - success of any country
In the Message to the Nation N.Nazarbayev stressed that over the last decade the volume of funds allocated by state to the education increased tenfold. The Address emphasizes that quality education should become a foundation of industrialization and innovative development of Kazakhstan.
Following independence from the Soviet Union a major economic depression cut "public financing" for education in Kazakhstan, "which dropped from six percent of gross domestic product in 1991 to about three percent in 1994, before rising to four percent in 1999."
In 2010 the infrastructure of education and science improved significantly. At the end of the year 6,446 preschool organizations functioned in the country. Within the Balapan program which was elaborated on the President's instruction the network of preschool establishments was increased by 1,429 entities - 279 kindergartens and 1,150 mini centers.
Kazakhstan's 1995 constitution provides mandatory, socialized secondary school education. Presently 7,516 state secondary schools are operating in the country. 73 schools were put into commission in 2010. The system of online education is under introduction. In accordance with the President's Message to the Nation "New Decade - New Economic Growth - New Opportunities for Kazakhstan" as of January 29, 2010 the model of 12-year education will function in the country in 2020. The Strategic Development Plan of the Republic of Kazakhstan till 2020 defines transfer to the 12-year education by 2015.
One of the priority directions of the educational policy is reorientation of the educational process to the competence-based approach. The structure of the 12-year school will allow to obtain basic 10-year education and clearly determine the future professional direction. The secondary school will be a basis for continuing education or introduction to the labor market. Within the transfer innovative information and communication technologies of education and the new system of assessment of learning achievements will be introduced.
In connection with realization of plans of the forced industrial development of the country there is conducted a work on extension of accessibility of technical and vocational education. At present 882 educational establishments - 513 state and 369 private ones - are functioning in the republic.
To improve training of professional and scientific personnel of higher qualification who will meet needs of the internal labor market there are taken measures for development of material and technical base of higher educational institutions. Human capacity of higher educational establishments strengthens. In 2009-2010 academic year 1,075 teachers underwent refresher trainings on the basis of six pedagogical universities, and 1,425 people - courses on engineering occupation on the basis of 15 universities which have engineering laboratories.
The Government is currently pursuing a program to adopt a credit-system which would allow students to study more easily internationally, and to add the possibility of a curriculum with electives and student-chosen courses.
Opening of the Nazarbayev University is a great event which means the beginning of the new stage of development of higher education in Kazakhstan.
Delivering a speech to the University students, President Nursultan Nazarbayev outlined that Kazakhstan which gathers development rates needs specialists with contemporary knowledge who will be able to take and implement right decisions. He reminded that more than 20,000 young specialists were trained within Bolashak program. In 1993 by the President's Decree the Bolashak Scholarship was created: "In Kazakhstan's transition toward a market economy and the expansion of international contacts, there is an acute need for a workforce with advanced western education, and so, it is now necessary to send the most qualified youth to study in leading educational institutions in foreign countries".
Tens of thousands of young Kazakhstanis are studying abroad in private order. But Kazakhstan needs its own industry of science and knowledge which will be able to train professionals of international level.
"Establishment of the new university is a new step in the integration of Kazakh higher educational establishments into the world educational space," N.Nazarbayev said.
He stressed that Kazakhstan needs a scientific center which will create not only scientists, but new technologies in promising innovative spheres. The current system of higher education of most countries is based on assimilation of knowledge on what happened and what was done. It is characteristic for many universities of Kazakhstan. But according to the President, the practical side of learning plays only secondary role. The most successful are those countries which managed to combine the theoretical and practical elements in the university system.
N.Nazarbayev emphasized that with the new university creation Kazakhstan makes a decisive step towards innovative education and expressed confidence that the new university will influence development of the capital, state and society.
The Energy research center for high energy physics, energy-saving technology and renewable energy; Center for life science and other will function in the structure of the Nazarbayev University.
As the President emphasized, Kazakhstan needs an intellectual revolution which will allow to inspire and realize the nation's potential.
On the President's instruction there was developed the new State Program on Education Development for 2011-2020 - one of the four key state programs which were set in the Message to the Nation "New Decade - New Economic Growth - New Opportunities for Kazakhstan" as of January 29, 2010 as the most priority.
When former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Kazakhstan on October 12-13, 2006, she said: "The future of any state depends on its level of education. This is my fourth visit to Kazakhstan, I have already been to Atyrau and Almaty and I have been able to see for myself the high level of education of your nation, which is success of any country."