Tokayev urges Kazakhstan to shed 'eternally suffering nation' image
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President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called on Kazakhstan to move beyond the image of an 'eternally suffering nation' during the August 26 national teachers' conference in Astana. He linked the call to the discovery of more than 700 gross errors in school textbooks and the need to revise unverified historical narratives. The president stressed that remembering past tragedies must not become the core of national identity for young people.
Key Facts
- Tokayev made the remarks at the August 26 national teachers' conference in Astana.
- More than 700 gross errors were found in school textbooks, prompting a review of unverified historical data and invented 'heroes'.
- On May 31, 2025, Tokayev had similarly urged moving away from the idea that 'we suffered blows from fate' during commemorations for victims of political repression and famine.
- Tokayev said young people should understand their people's history correctly and look to the future with hope and confidence.
The President's Call
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told the national teachers' conference in Astana on August 26 that Kazakhstan must shed the image of an 'eternally suffering nation'. He said some writers are fond of the word 'sorrow' and that sadness does not suit young people. Tokayev stressed that young people should understand their people's history correctly and look to the future with hope and confidence. He added that Kazakhstan must become a strong nation that believes in its own strength, and that sorrow and grief should be alien to the youth.
Textbook Errors and Historical Revision
Before the conference, Tokayev announced that more than 700 gross errors had been found in school textbooks. He called for a review of unverified historical data and materials about invented 'heroes'. The president said the call to shed the 'suffering nation' image was not accidental but connected to the need to fix history education.
Continuity of the Message
On May 31, 2025, during commemorations for victims of political repression and famine, Tokayev urged moving away from the idea that 'we suffered blows from fate'. He said that however painful the past, its tragedies must not hinder the country's development and growth. Tokayev argued that looking back at the past is a sign of weakness and that history should be viewed as broadly as possible. The August 26 statement is thus a continuation of a position the president has articulated before.
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