Kazakhstan to Tighten Licensing Rules for Private Schools

The procedures for opening private schools in Kazakhstan are set to change. This was announced by the Minister of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Zhuldyz Suleimenova, during a meeting with founders and directors of private schools in Almaty.

According to the Minister, from now on, private schools will only be opened in regions where there is a clear and specific need. Licenses will be granted exclusively in areas facing a shortage of state schools, with the aim of reducing triple-shift schooling and replacing educational organizations that are in emergency condition.

Furthermore, the responsibility of private school founders will be strengthened at the legislative level. They will be held fully accountable for the quality of education, the professional qualifications of teachers, and the safety of students.
There are also plans to change the procedure for appointing school directors. Directors will no longer be appointed solely by the decision of the founders. Instead, the process will now require mandatory coordination and approval from the relevant Ministry and local executive bodies.

Currently, there are 890 licensed private schools operating in the country, and 785 of them have fully digitized documentation. The government also plans to introduce a moratorium on placing state orders (subsidies) in newly opened private schools in the future.