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INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS
Types of higher education institutions:
University
Institute
Academy
Conservatoire
School leaving and higher education credentials:
Attestat o Srednem obščem Obrazovanii
Diplom o Srednem Spetsialnom Obrazovanii
Bakalavr
Diplom Specialista
Kandidat Nauk
Magistr
Doctorate (PhD)
Doktor Nauk
STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM
Pre-higher education:
Duration of compulsory education:
Age of entry: 6
Age of exit: 15
Structure of school system:
Pre-Primary
Type of school providing this education:
Kindergarten
Length of program in years: 1
Age level from: 5 to: 6
Primary
Type of school providing this education:
Primary
School
Length of program in years: 4
Age level from: 6 to: 10
Basic
Type of school providing this education:
General
School, Secondary School, Gymnasium
Length of program in years: 5
Age level from: 10 to: 15
General Secondary
Type of school providing this education:
Secondary
School, Lyceum, Gymnasium
Length of program in years: 2
Age level from: 15 to: 17
Certificate/diploma awarded: Atestat o Srednem Obrazovanii
(Certificate of Complete Secondary Education)
Vocational
Type of school providing this education:
Professional
Lyceum, Vocational School
Length of program in years: 2
Age level from: 15 to: 17
Certificate/diploma awarded: Diplom o Srednem Spetsialnom
Obrazovanii
Professional
Type of school providing this education:
Professional
College, Vocational School
Length of program in years: 4
Age level from: 15 to: 19
Certificate/diploma awarded: Diplom o
Srednem Spetsialnom Obrazovanii
School education:
Primary education lasts for four years preceded by one
year pf pre-school education. Secondary education consists in three main
educational phases: primary education (forms 1-4), basic general education
(forms 5-9) and senior level education (forms 10-11 or 12) divided into
continued general education and professional education. These three levels of
education can be followed in one institution or in different ones (e.g. primary
school, then secondary school). Recently, several secondary schools,
specialized schools, magnet schools, gymnasiums, lyceums, linguistic and
technical gymnasiums, have been founded. Secondary professional education is
offered in special professional or technical schools, lyceums or colleges and
vocational schools.
Higher education:
At present, there are universities, academies, and
institutes, conservatoires, higher schools and higher colleges. There are three
main levels: basic higher education that provides the fundamentals of the
chosen field of study and leads to the award of the Bachelor degree;
specialized higher education after which students are awarded the Specialist's
Diploma; and scientific-pedagogical higher education which leads to the
Master's Degree. Postgraduate education leads to the Kandidat Nauk (Candidate
of Sciences) and the Doctor of Sciences.
With the adoption of the Laws on Education and on Higher Education, a
private sector has been established and several
private institutions have been licensed.
Main laws/decrees governing higher education:
Decree: Law on Higher Education Year: 1993
Concerns: Public and private higher education institutions
Decree: Law on Higher Education Year: 1996
Concerns: State institutions
Academic year:
Classes from: Sep to: Jun
Languages of instruction: Kazakh,
Russian, English, German, French, Chinese, Arabic
Stages of studies:
University level studies:
University level first stage: Diploma of
Specialist, Bachelor:
A
Diploma of Specialist or Diploma of Specialized Higher Education in
a particular field of study is generally awarded at the end of a five-year
course (former system). Bachelor's Degrees are now also conferred after four
years' studies.
University level second stage: Aspirantura,
Master's:
Full-time
postgraduate studies (Aspirantura) leading to the qualification of Candidate of
Sciences (Kandidat Nauk) normally last for three years. The submission of a
thesis is required. Master's Degrees are also conferred after a further two
years' study beyond the Bachelor's Degree.
University level third stage: PhD,
Doctorate (Doktoratura):
In the new system, a PhD is conferred after two to
three years' further study beyond the Master's Degree. The Doctor of Sciences
(Doktor Nauk) is awarded after the Kandidat Nauk after completion of a thesis
based on original research.
Teacher education:
Training of secondary school teachers
Secondary school teachers are trained at universities.
They follow a five-year course leading to a Specialist's Diploma.
Non-traditional studies:
Distance higher education
Several
universities offer distance education.
Lifelong higher education
Many higher education institutions have special
departments that are responsible for running professional updating courses.
NATIONAL BODIES
Administration & co-ordination:
Responsible authorities:
Ministry of Education and Science
Head: Birgamin Aytimova, Minister
Republic avenue, 60
473000 Astana
Kazakhstan
Tel: +8(3172) 333 325
Fax: +8(3172) 333 412
EMail: pressa@edu.gov.kz
WWW: http://www.edu.gov.kz
Role of governing body: The main aim
of the Ministry of Education and Science is the realization of state policy in
the field of education and science, general scientific and methodical guidance
over all educational and scientific institutions.
ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Admission to university-level studies
Name of secondary school credential required: Attestat o
Srednem obščem Obrazovanii
Name of secondary school credential
required: Diplom o Srednem Spetsialnom Obrazovanii
Entrance exams required: In 2004,
school leavers will have to pass a new exam, the Edinoe Nacional'noe
Testirovanie (Unified National Testing Exam) and its diploma the Certificat o
Rezul'tatah EHT (replacing the
Kompleksnoe Testirovanie (Complex Testing Exam) to enter Universities.
Recognition of studies &
qualifications:
Studies pursued in foreign countries
(bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):
Ministry of Education and Science
Astana
Kazakhstan
Deals with credential recognition for
entry to: University
Services provided & students dealt
with: Responsible for quality assurance (through licensing, attestation and
accreditation), state standards in higher education and decides which
institutions have the right to grant degrees.
Multilateral agreements concerning
recognition of foreign studies
Name of agreement: Convention
on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Asia
and the Pacific
Year of signature: 1983
Name of agreement: Convention
on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in
Europe
Year of signature: 1979
STUDENT LIFE
Student expenses and financial aid
Student costs:
Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 0 (Tenge)
Maximum: 90000 (Tenge)
Foreign students tuition fees: Minimum: 2000 (US
Dollar)
Publications on student services and
financial aid:
Title: Study Abroad 2004-2005, 32nd
Edition
Author: UNESCO
Publisher: UNESCO
Publishing
Year of publication: 2003
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION &
EXCHANGES
Principal national bodies responsible
for dealing with international cooperation and exchanges in higher education:
Ministry of Education and Science
Head: Adil Mukhambet, Head of International Cooperation Division
Respubliki Square 60 (Kazakh Oil Building
473000 Astana
Kazakhstan
Tel: +7(3172) 333-325 +7(3172) 214-230
Fax: +7(3172) 333-412 +7(3172) 333-178
EMail: monrk@mail.ru;sarin2002@mail.ru
GRADING SYSTEM
Usual grading system in secondary school
Full Description: 1 - 5 scale.
5: excellent; 4: good; 3: satisfactory; 2: unsatisfactory; 1 totally
unsatisfactory
Highest on scale: 5
Pass/fail level: 3/2
Lowest on scale: 1
Main grading system used by higher
education institutions
Full Description: Marking is
on a 1 - 5 scale. 5: excellent; 4: good; 3: satisfactory; 2: unsatisfactory; 1
totally unsatisfactory
Highest on scale: 5
Pass/fail level: 3/2
Lowest on scale: 1
Other main grading systems
In 1999-2000, most higher education establishments
adopted the rating system (%). Highest rating: 100%-90%; Pass/fail level:
90%-60%; 60%-40%.
NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM
Data for academic year: 2004-2005
Source: Soros Educational Advising Centre, Almaty, 2001, updated from Swedish NARIC, 2004 (except for governing bodies, updated 2005)
