Minister Suleimenova spoke about new school subjects

Kazakhstan is set to introduce significant changes to its school curriculum, with new mandatory subjects and a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence. Starting the new academic year, students in Grades 5-7 will study "Fundamentals of the Constitution," while those in Grades 8-11 will take "Law and Order." A "Personal Safety" course will also be implemented for students across Grades 5-11.

Additionally, the "Fundamentals of Law" course, previously elective, will become mandatory for all students and updated to reflect the new Constitution. A major shift involves integrating artificial intelligence into the secondary education system. "Digital Literacy" will be renamed "Digital Literacy and Artificial Intelligence," and "Computer Science" will become "Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence." AI-related topics will also be incorporated into 43 existing learning objectives.

These updated programs have undergone successful piloting and received positive expert evaluations. The Ministry of Education has developed 19 methodological guidelines for teachers on using AI. This initiative aligns with a presidential decree signed in May aimed at introducing AI into secondary education, with a comprehensive plan for 2026-2029 in development.

Preparations are also being made for rural schools to adopt these new technologies. Internet networks have been assessed, and connectivity issues are being addressed, including plans to connect to Starlink satellite internet. For younger students in Grades 1-4, the "Media Literacy and AI" section will introduce basic AI principles through simple examples, alongside digital safety and responsible online behavior.