The main goal of the ongoing changes in the education system of the Republic of Kazakhstan in recent years is to prepare comprehensively developed, spiritually rich, intellectually active, competitive specialists, training them in accordance with international standards. Teachers, for their part, consider it their task to form their students' ability to express their own opinion about all reforms in the field of education, their goals and reasons. Students should be aware of all the changes and understand their need. To this end, on October 30, 2019, in the reading hall of Student House No. 4, teachers of the Foreign Languages Department of the Faculty of Philology Smagulova B.G., Khamitova A.G. and Mukhtarkhanova A.M. held an event on the topic “On innovations in the educational system of Kazakhstan”, in which first-year students of the faculties of natural sciences and economics took part.
The event was held in the role play format. Students discussed, expressed their opinions on issues of trilingualism in education, a 12-year school, inclusive education, criteria-based assessment and an electronic journal as representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Bolashak Center for International Programs, Nazarbayev Intellectual School, educational centers, directors, teachers and students of city schools. Students spoke Kazakh, Russian and English. As representatives of various organizations, students noted difficulties in the implementation of changes in the education system, suggested possible solutions to problems. Having analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of an electronic diary or journal, they noted the need for their implementation. Telling that inclusive education, which includes all pupils or students in the general education system, regardless of their physical, mental, intellectual and other characteristics, is aimed at the needs and requirements of students, students emphasized the need for psychological and social support not only for students with disabilities, but also students studying with them and their parents. In Kazakhstan, the number of children with special educational needs who need inclusive education is growing every year. For example, if we compare the indicators of 2017 and 2018, the number of kindergartens increased by 20%, the number of secondary schools increased by 60% and the number of technical and vocational education institutions increased by 30%. In 2019, these indicators are expected to grow, as it is planned to adapt more educational institutions of different levels to inclusive education.
During the event, students drew posters to clearly explain and demonstrate their ideas. Some students used slides where they used accurate figures and facts. At the end of the event, the teachers asked final questions, noted the importance of the questions raised, and thanked the students for their active participation in the event.
Today's youth is our future. The fact that students drew attention to the changes which take place in society, searched and read a lot of information in order to understand their importance makes elder generation think positively about the near future life in Kazakhstan.
