NUR-SULTAN – The Kazakh Ministry of Education and Science proposed to continue online learning with the start of the new school season, reported PrimeMinister.kz. Colleges and universities will also continue remote learning.
This year, Similarweb, a New-York based web analytics service for businesses, ranked Kazakhstan’s Kundelik school learning management website among the top 50 educational resources in the world.
The educational institution switched to online learning in mid-March when a state of emergency as a response to the pandemic outbreak was declared in Kazakhstan.
The life and health of children and teachers are the main priority, said Minister of Education and Science Askhat Aimagambetov at the July 14 government meeting. They are at high risk of contracting coronavirus infection as well as other respiratory infections because up to 70 percent of schoolchildren annually get acute respiratory infection.
“Also, there will be a possibility of opening some classes for primary schoolchildren in compliance with strict sanitary measures at the parents’ request,” said the minister.
This is related to the age characteristics of primary school students when they just begin to learn the skills necessary for self-study and self-organization. In this case, sanitary safety measures will simply be toughened in schools.
“Children will study in one classroom and breaks between classes will be at different times. Temperature will be checked at the entrance to the school. The ventilation, quartz and wet cleaning measures will be strengthened,” he added.
Children in remote rural areas will still study at schools if there is a favorable epidemiological situation.
Inclusive and accessible education will be provided for children with special learning needs and children from low-income families.
Local executive bodies have been tasked with providing schools, teachers, and students with computers.
The Ministry of Education and Science has also gone to work improving Internet platforms for distance learning after considering proposals put forward by teachers and students. The preparation of televised classes was also organized.
“We developed the online courses on IT competencies, cyber pedagogy and teaching methodology for teachers. The courses for 350,000 teachers will start on July,” said Aimagambetov.
A gradual transition of schools to a new hybrid teaching regime will be carried out in compliance with sanitary requirements if the epidemiological situation improves in the country.
