Kazakhstan to Reform Teacher Selection Process with Mandatory Oral Exams

In a strategic move to enhance the quality of education and develop human capital, Kazakhstan is set to fundamentally overhaul its student selection process. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information, Aida Balayeva, has announced that starting in 2027, a hybrid admission model will be implemented for pedagogical universities. This new framework shifts the focus beyond purely academic knowledge to include an assessment of professional aptitude and personal qualities.

Key Reforms and Innovations:

• Introduction of Oral Examinations: For candidates choosing pedagogical fields, mandatory oral exams will be introduced alongside Unified National Testing (UNT) results. These examinations are designed to evaluate the communicative skills, speech culture, and psychological readiness of future educators for professional practice.

• The Admissions Insights Test (AIT) System: A specialized testing block, developed in collaboration with international experts, will be integrated into the selection process. This system aims to verify candidates' critical thinking levels, analytical abilities, and decision-making skills in complex scenarios.

• Optimization of the UNT Format: To ensure fairness and objectivity in the awarding of state grants, a proposal has been made to transition to a single-attempt UNT format for the grant competition. However, mock testing systems will remain available to allow applicants to assess their preparedness levels beforehand.

• Stricter Requirements for International Transfers: The practice of conditional admission to universities via Foundation programs is planned to be phased out. Furthermore, students seeking to transfer to Kazakhstani universities from foreign institutions will now be strictly required to provide a UNT or Comprehensive Testing (CT) certificate.

According to the Minister, these changes do not represent a move away from standardized testing but rather an evolution toward modern global standards. These new approaches aim to identify the most capable and talented youth, contributing to the nation's long-term strategic development.