Irregularities Identified in the Administration of the "Bolashak" International Scholarship

During a government session in the Mazhilis, Tlegen Kaskin, a member of the Supreme Audit Chamber, reported significant administrative failures within the "Bolashak" scholarship program.

 According to the audit findings, 340 applicants were awarded the scholarship despite failing to meet the mandatory selection criteria, resulting in the allocation of 7.7 billion KZT to ineligible candidates. Furthermore, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education was found to have issued 151 scholarships beyond the officially established limits, signaling serious management risks.

The report also highlighted a misalignment with strategic priorities, particularly in the field of technology. Although 54 scholarships were originally allocated for Artificial Intelligence, only five were actually awarded, with the remaining 49 redirected to other areas. In light of these discrepancies, the Ministry is considering increasing financial penalties for recipients who breach their contractual obligations. To date, scholarship participants have already returned a total of 14.5 billion KZT to the state budget due to non-compliance with program requirements.