Driving School Tuition May Rise Due to New Regulations

During a plenary session of the Mazhilis, Deputy Ekaterina Smyshlyayeva presented a draft law titled "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan Concerning Digitalization, Road Safety, and Entrepreneurship in Driver Training."

The current driver training system has faced public criticism for years. Citizens have complained about the low quality of education in driving schools, a formalistic approach to practical lessons, and the lack of unified standards for material and technical facilities. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), a significant portion of road accidents are caused by novice drivers who have recently obtained their licenses.

Currently, opening a driving school is a simple notification-based process. However, once the law is enacted, schools will be required to obtain special permits. They must possess dedicated training grounds and circuits, a fleet of functional training vehicles, qualified instructors, and the necessary educational and methodological resources.

Already accredited driving schools will be entered into a centralized registry under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This registry will be accessible to the public, allowing citizens to verify whether their chosen driving school holds a valid permit.

Meanwhile, experts note that the increased requirements for driving schools will inevitably impact the cost of tuition. Bringing infrastructure into compliance with the new standards will require additional investments from the owners of these educational organizations.