Kazakhstan launches a new state order system for private schools

A pilot project on a new mechanism for placing state educational orders in private schools has started in Kazakhstan. By the joint order of the Ministry of Education and Akimats of regions, cities of Almaty, Astana and Shymkent, a pilot project "A new mechanism for placing a state educational order for secondary education in private educational organizations for the academic year 2025-2026" was approved.

The project aims to increase funding transparency, develop public-private partnerships and ensure the availability of quality education for all children.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of private schools in the country, which has reached about a thousand. An increase in the share of private business in the field of education is a good trend, but the current procedure for state orders requires updating.

The analysis showed that the need for reform is due to identified inconsistencies in student registration and funding for private schools. In some cases, children were actually trained in one organization, but according to the National Educational Base, they were listed in another organization that received a state order.

In some regions, schools kept information about retired students in the system, continuing to receive funding. Cases of accrual of funds for training in organizations that did not carry out educational activities, but registered as recipients of state orders, were also identified.

The solution to these issues and one of the main elements of the transformation will be a new information system. It was developed at the Information and Accounting Center JSC of the Ministry of Finance. It is already built into the Е-Qazyna.kz digital platform and will not only simplify the work of users, but also strengthen control over the reliability of data: the system will automatically check the number and contingent of students, the availability of permits and connect educational information systems together.

To ensure unified administration, JSC Financial Center was transferred to the Ministry of Finance. It acts as the operator of the pilot project and provides organizational and methodological support, consultations of participants, monitoring and payment for adopted acts.

The main role in the implementation of the pilot is assigned to local executive bodies - education departments, which will place government orders, approve consolidated settlements, conclude contracts and accept acts of services rendered through the www.e-Qazyna.kz web portal developed by Information and Accounting Center JSC. At the next stage, it is planned to integrate into the system other instruments of state financing in the field of education - grants, scholarships, provision of places in hostels and other forms of support.

The new information system was launched on November 12 the current year. The Ministry of Finance, introducing digitalization in the field of educational services, intends to make the movement of budget funds under the state order more transparent and understandable, and will also administer issues of timely and reasonable financing. The innovation will reduce the burden on the budget, increase competition and attract more private investment in education.