Free school meals to be provided to all primary school children in Kazakhstan

The issue of preparing the regions for the new school year was considered at the Government session chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, El.kz cites primeminister.kz.

Minister of Education Gani Beisembayev said that from September 1, 3.9 million children will study in 7.7 thousand educational organizations, where 364 thousand of them are first-graders. In fulfillment of the Head of State's instruction, 1.4 million children of primary grades (1-4) will be provided with free meals starting this year.

By September 1, 52 new schools with 65.6 thousand seats will open their doors in the republic, and by the end of the year - 102 more schools with 66.4 thousand seats. This will solve the problem of 12 emergency and 29 three-shift schools. In addition, 260 schools are undergoing major repairs to create a comfortable environment.

The following work has been done to ensure the safety of children. Thus, 3103 schools are connected to the centers of operational management of internal affairs bodies, 2075 schools are covered by services of licensed security agencies (1.8 times growth since the beginning of the year), alarm buttons are installed in 3327 schools (1.9 times growth). The work in these directions continues.

First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Marat Kozhayev also made a report on ensuring security at educational facilities.

Akims of North Kazakhstan region Aidarbek Saparov, Atyrau region Serik Shapkenov, Turkestan region Darhan Satybaldy reported on preparations for the new school year, conducted in the regions.

Prime Minister noted that before the beginning of the school year it is planned to open 52 new schools, which thousands of students are waiting for. At the same time, there are risks of untimely commissioning of 15 schools.

"Most of such risky objects are located in Turkestan region and the capital. It is necessary to intensify work in this direction and ensure commissioning of new facilities," Alikhan Smailov pointed out.

According to him, in 180 schools capital repair is being completed, but here there are risks of untimely completion of works. Only in Akmola region there are about 7 such schools, 2 more in Pavlodar and North-Kazakhstan regions.

"These regions need to take prompt measures to complete the repair. According to the norms, all construction works should be completed 2 weeks before the beginning of the educational process, so that children came to clean and ventilated rooms," the Prime Minister said.

He also added that the boiler houses have not yet been removed from the buildings of 54 schools. There are also questions about modernization of schools.

"It is believed that 948 schools have passed it, but only 290 schools are equipped with modern rooms of robotics, chemistry, biology and physics. But this is not enough. Akimats of regions together with the Ministry of Education need to ensure comprehensive modernization so that modern subject rooms appeared in all schools. There can be no formal approach to report in this work," Alikhan Smailov said.

In addition, the Head of Government emphasized that irresponsible attitude to the security of educational facilities is unacceptable.

"Not all facilities still meet the security requirements. Over a third of schools are not connected to the police operational control centers. This work should be intensified," he said.

At the same time Prime Minister reminded that from September 1 absolutely all elementary school students would be covered by free meals. And this is more than 1.4 million children.

"This year low-income families will receive at least 40 thousand tenge per child to purchase school clothes and stationery. Such assistance will be provided to almost 500 thousand children. More than 500 new buses have been purchased this year to provide transportation of children," Alikhan Smailov noted.

Along with this, the Head of Government demanded to ensure 100% coverage of children in need of assistance by measures of state support.

"It is necessary to organize school fairs and roadshows in remote villages. Akimats, Ministries of Education, Trade, Industry and "Atameken" Chamber should work out issues of ensuring stable acceptable prices for school supplies and school uniforms," he said.

In conclusion, Alikhan Smailov outlined the need to complete the work on updating of video cameras, withdrawal of video surveillance systems to operational control centers and provision of educational organizations with licensed security guards.

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