Baikonur schools abandoned the Kazakh language

The study of the Kazakh language and literature, as well as the history of Kazakhstan, will not be introduced in schools in the city of Baikonur. This decision was made based on the results of a public opinion poll.

“Monitoring has shown that, in general, students and their parents give preference to other areas of extracurricular activities: preparation for the state final certification, studying foreign languages, sports and patriotic education,” – stated in the city education department.

The demand for learning the Kazakh language was only among the parents of four secondary schools in one educational institution in the city. Meanwhile, according to Kazakh standards, there are only five schools operating in Baikonur, and seven according to Russian standards. In the latter, about 2 thousand Kazakh students receive secondary education.

According to the special representative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the territory of the Baikonur complex, Kairat Nurtai, surveys of children will be conducted in all schools, and those who express a desire will be able to study Kazakh academic disciplines: “This will provide a good opportunity for our children to further study in Kazakh universities.”

Opinions on social networks regarding the study of the Kazakh language in Baikonur schools are divided. One part of users believes that it is wrong not to know the language of the country where you live. Others believe that today it is not necessary to learn a language; you can communicate without problems through an online translator.

The changes affected not only the education sector. Thus, recently signs, advertising and information boards in the Kazakh language have appeared on the streets of Baikonur. Also, for the first time in the last 30 years, the city’s streets were named after Kazakh poets and war heroes. Streets named after Manshuk Mametova, Aliya Moldagulova, Bauyrzhan Momyshuly and Korkyt ata appeared in Baikonur. According to local residents, this is another reminder of the exploits of the Kazakh people.

Let us remember that Baikonur, which includes the cosmodrome and the city of the same name, was leased to Russia for 20 years in 1994. In 2004, the period was extended until 2050. Annual rent is $115 million.