Kazakhstan Rebuilds Education Around AI and Labor Market
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Kazakhstan is restructuring its education system to prioritize digital skills, practical training, and artificial intelligence. The government has built 1,100 new schools over five years and enrolled 562,000 students in technical and vocational programs. The shift comes as the country's population reached 20.5 million in early 2026, with 6.1 million young people aged 14 to 35.
Key Facts
- Kazakhstan built 1,100 new schools with over 1 million student places in the past five years.
- The number of students in technical and vocational education reached 562,000 in 2025, up 13.7% over five years.
- The government allocated nearly 90,000 educational grants for the 2026–2027 academic year.
- More than 700,000 students have completed basic AI training.
- Kazakhstan's population reached 20.5 million in early 2026, with 6.1 million aged 14–35.
School Infrastructure Expansion
Kazakhstan built 1,100 new schools with over 1 million student places over the past five years. The country's population reached 20.5 million in early 2026, nearly one million more than five years earlier. Young people aged 14 to 35 number 6.1 million, or over 28% of the population. Since the start of 2026, 2,073 Kazakhstani students won 204 gold, 356 silver, and 507 bronze medals at international olympiads and science competitions.
Technical and Vocational Education Growth
The number of students in technical and vocational education organizations grew 13.7% over five years to 562,000 in 2025. About 500 educational programs were developed or updated to meet new requirements. Colleges are strengthening ties with enterprises and expanding work-based learning. The labor market is shifting from diploma-based qualification to a system valuing specific skills, practical experience, and technology proficiency.
Higher Education and AI Training
In 2025, 724,100 students were enrolled in universities and postgraduate programs, up 16% over five years. The government allocated nearly 90,000 educational grants for the 2026–2027 academic year, including over 75,000 for bachelor's degrees. Bachelor's scholarships doubled over the period, while master's and doctoral scholarships increased 1.75 times. The Keleшек savings system has opened more than 227,000 accounts for education funding. From 2018 to 2025, Kazakhstan built 281 dormitories with 72,125 beds, reducing the shortage from 82,500 to 5,176 places. More than 700,000 students have completed basic AI training.
1 source
Kazakhstan Rebuilds Education Around AI and Labor Market
