President Tokayev Signs Law on Child Safety and Education.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan has signed a new law introducing amendments and additions to various legislative acts on education, mentoring, and child safety. The law, signed on Feb. 23, aims to address core issues within the education system to ensure the safety and well-being of children.
According to Askhat Aimagambetov, chairman of the Committee on Social and Cultural Development of Mazhilis, the new law includes guidelines to enhance safety in educational environments and expand access to education. Some key provisions of the law include a ban on the construction of high-rise buildings without prior provision of schools and kindergartens, as well as a prohibition on the privatization of public schools and colleges.
Under the new law, schools, kindergartens, and colleges that have been in use for longer than 30 years will be inspected for emergencies every five years. Educational institutions will also have the right to use income from paid services for their own development without transferring it to the budget. School heads will have the authority to change the staffing table within the approved number of personnel to better serve the needs of students.
One significant change is the introduction of a special rule restricting the use of cell phones during class periods to ensure that children are fully engaged in learning. Additionally, windows in high-rise buildings must be equipped with safety mechanisms to prevent children from falling.
The law also introduces a new regulation banning exams for first-grade entry and prohibits the distribution of harmful information in educational institutions. To reduce corruption, processes such as placing a child on a waiting list for kindergarten and hiring education personnel will be carried out through a single information platform.
The government has made college education a priority, with new norms allowing colleges to provide students with voluntary insurance against potential dangers during internships. Licensing of colleges has been simplified, and a restriction on online education in medical and pedagogical specialties has been introduced to maintain high-quality education.
The law also aims to support children with deviant behavior by promoting their admission to sports clubs and hobby groups for additional education. While the child protection and education law has improved, Aimagambetov believes that further changes are still needed to ensure the safety and well-being of children.
