"Atameken" together with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan plans to discuss annually the issues of private and secondary education on a single site

Within the framework of the August conference the forum in the field of private and secondary education "Investment in childhood" was held for the first time. Representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the NCE "Atameken" and pre-school and school institutions gathered at the site.

Over the past decade, Kazakhstan has firmly taken a leading position in the education sector, Lazzat Ramazanova, Chairman of the Business Women's Council of the "Atameken" stressed. It is worth noting that today women compose 80% of the education system.

"We are in the TOP-40 countries and rank 35 in the world ranking in the category Education. Our country is recognized as the best in the field of education in Central and West Asia. Certainly, the quality of human capital is the key to the success of the entire state. Education develops progressively and entrepreneurship is its main driver. Today, certain conditions are created for the expansion of private educational institutions in the country. But the issue of improving the quality of the educational services provided is on the agenda, as well as the issue of increasing intra-industrial competition," - Lazzat Ramazanova, Chairman of the Business Women's Council of the "Atameken" says.

And on the question - what unresolved gaps have arisen in the sphere of education, the managing director of the department of human capital development of the NCE Olzhas Ordabaev explained that the main problems are related to per capita financing, financing of 2 years old children. Also, private kindergartens and schools face such issues as wages payment, payment for utilities, repayment of loans for purchased premises.

"Education is a very specific business with a big social role and responsibility. Entrepreneurs work with children, work on their upbringing, this is a very fragile and complex process. Here, we as "Atameken" will try to support this process and defend the interests of business from a socially responsible point of view," Olzhas Ordabayev emphasized.​​​​​​​

In turn, Vice Minister of Education and Science Bibigul Asylova stressed that the private education sector is actively involved in the development of the education system.

"Private capital prevails in the education system at all levels, such as gardens, schools, vocational education, universities. This is a positive trend, private organizations account for more than 60% of the social stratum," - Bibigul Asylova said.​​​​​​​

In his turn, the Chairman of the Committee for Social Sphere and Social Entrepreneurship of the NCE RK "Atameken" Talgat Doskenov assured that "Atameken" is systematically approaching the solution of problematic issues. The task, that the National Parliament faces, is the development of human capital, noting that we will not be ready for new challenges without knowledge.

The main message of the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan to business is the opening of private schools. To achieve the goal the National Chamber together with the state agency, actively worked on problematic issues for 1.5 years. According to the statistics of the National Educational Database, as of September 1, 2017, 112 private schools were registered in Kazakhstan, which is 1.5% of the total number.

"In Europe, this figure is 30%. For today a niche in secondary education is not filled. The best trends and examples have shown that private education is effective, and we, as a state agency, are focused on this. From the year of 2013, the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan is working on a pilot project, which will be launched in Astana on September 1. It is the per capita financing that will shift the development of private schools. When working on system, the Atameken and the ministry came to the conclusion that it is necessary to change legislative acts that do not allow the education system to fully develop," - Bibigul Asylova said.

In particular, in March 2018 new SNIPs were adopted, according to which private educational organizations can be located on 1-2 floors of residential premises. The area of the premises has been reduced by 40%, now for the opening of the school it is not necessary to build it.

MES RK regularly sends comments to the akimats, for example, in Talgar, the local executive body requests to build a school for 1,200 places, without allocating state order for private schools.

Zhanat Idrisov, the head of the kindergarten of the Koyandy village in the Tselinograd district, faced such a situation in April 2018.

"Last year I sold my apartment in Astana and invested in building a premise for a kindergarten. In March I opened a kindergarten for 100 children and recruited the staff. From April to the present, there is no state support. I submitted documents, participated in the contest, but state agencies say that there is no budget. I do not have enough money to pay wages, and the kindergarten is on the verge of closure," - businessman Zhanat Idrisov complained.​​​​​​​

This case is not the only one. As a result of the meeting, all the problematic issues will be collected and transferred to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.