Teacher Competency Testing Abolished in Kazakhstan

Following a direct order from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Subject Knowledge Assessment (SKA) for educators has been officially terminated across Kazakhstan. The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Zhuldyz Suleimenova.

The official directive has already been dispatched to all regions of the country and has formally entered into force.

Minister Zhuldyz Suleimenova characterized this decision as a significant gesture of trust and support for the teaching community:

"Dear educators! By order of the Head of State, the Subject Knowledge Assessment (SKA) has been discontinued. In my view, this decision reflects the President's great care and high level of trust in you. Congratulations to you all on this positive news!"

Previously, the SKA (Subject Knowledge Assessment) was an integral part of the teacher certification process. The testing was designed to determine professional competence across three specific areas:

• Pedagogy — 30 questions;

• Teaching Methodology — 20–30 questions;

• Subject Knowledge — 50 questions.

Based on these test results, teachers were awarded qualification categories ranging from "Pedagogue-Moderator" to "Pedagogue-Master," which directly influenced their salary increments and bonuses.

The abolition of this testing is being hailed as a major step toward reducing bureaucracy in the education sector and strengthening the overall status of teachers. For years, the requirement faced criticism for creating unnecessary psychological pressure and diverting time away from actual classroom instruction.

Moving forward, educators will be able to shift their primary focus from preparing for standardized tests to enhancing the quality of the educational and upbringing process for their students.