Kazakhstan's Kazakh Language Curriculum: A Teacher's Plea for Reform

Kazakhstan Faces Challenges in Reforming Kazakh Language Curriculum Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan – Educators in Kazakhstan are facing significant hurdles in their efforts to reform the Kazakh language curriculum for students in grades 1 through 11. According to Dmitri Romashchenko, a Kazakh language teacher interviewed recently, a major obstacle is the scarcity of adapted learning materials. "We're trying to make changes, but it's not working," Romashchenko stated, highlighting the lack of repetition and adapted texts in the current system. This contrasts sharply with the abundance of resources available for English language instruction. Romashchenko, who has ten years of teaching experience, points to the need for a fundamental shift in how the language is taught. He emphasizes the difficulty of teaching advanced topics, such as those at the C1-C2 level, to younger students without adequate support materials. The lack of adapted classic literature, such as works by Abay, further compounds the problem. The challenges faced by teachers like Romashchenko underscore the need for greater investment in educational resources and a more comprehensive approach to curriculum reform. Addressing these issues is crucial to ensuring that students have the opportunity to master the Kazakh language effectively.