Kazakhstan makes AI a mandatory school subject from September

October 2, 2026 at 04:34 PM1 min

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Kazakhstan has made artificial intelligence a mandatory component of the national school curriculum starting this September. Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek announced the change at an AI-Sana program event. The move follows mandatory AI courses for university students, which reached over 708,000 learners last academic year.

Key Facts

Kazakhstan introduced mandatory AI fundamentals for all schoolchildren from the start of the new academic year in September.
Minister Sayasat Nurbek said over 708,000 university students completed mandatory AI courses last academic year.
The second stage of the higher education program will select 100,000 students annually for advanced training in creating AI agents.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev previously stated at the AI & Digital Bridge forum in Astana that AI opens broad prospects for youth education and development.

School Curriculum Change

Starting in September, Kazakhstan began teaching schoolchildren the fundamentals of artificial intelligence. Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek announced the change at an event on the national AI-Sana program. Kazakhstan became one of the first countries in the world to make AI an official mandatory component of the national curriculum. The new approach applies to all schoolchildren, beginning from elementary grades.

Higher Education Expansion

Last year, AI courses became mandatory for all students in higher education institutions. Over 708,000 students completed the courses during the previous academic year, covering nearly 100% of all students. The second stage of the program is already being implemented in higher education. Each year, 100,000 students will be selected for advanced training in creating AI agents — autonomous algorithms.

Presidential Endorsement

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke at the international AI & Digital Bridge forum in Astana. He stated that artificial intelligence opens broad prospects for young people to receive quality education and comprehensive development.