The meeting of the founders of the consortium «Educational Alliance»

On February 22, at Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, a meeting of the founders of the consortium «Educational Alliance» was held.

The meeting was attended by the Rector of Abai KazNPU Takir Balykbayev, General Director of the International Education Center «EDTECH-KZ» Gani Beisembayev, international experts from Finland: Coordinator for Global and Transnational Education, Department of Development, University of Eastern Finland, Professor-Emeritus of the University of Jyväskylä Jouni Valiärvi, representatives of EduCluster Finland Oy Jaakko Skantsi, Elina Harju, Education Specialist at the UNESCO Almaty and Cluster Cluster Office, Lina Benetta, as well as heads of education departments of the regions of Kazakhstan, the cities of Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, Rectors of pedagogical universities, representatives of the UNESCO International Education Center «EDTECH-KZ» and the leadership of Abai KazNPU.

In August 2018, at the initiative of Abai KazNPU, with the support of the International Education Center «EDTECH-KZ» UNESCO, consortium «Educational Alliance» was established. Its structure includes departments of education of regions and cities of Astana, Almaty, Shymkent. The purpose of the consortium is to coordinate the processes of personnel training in pedagogical universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan meeting the modern requirements of schools.

In a welcoming speech, Rector Takir Balykbayev acquainted the assembly of the founders of the consortium «Educational Alliance» with this task, noting the priority of the topic under discussion: «On this platform we should discuss topical issues of education and the state of teacher training for the education system. Combining our efforts, we must find solutions to the most important problems of education...»

During the event, presentations were made by Takir Balykbaev, Gani Beisembayev, international experts from Finland Jouni Valiyarvi, representatives of EduCluster Finland Oy Jaakko Skantsi, Elina Harju («Features of Finnish school and university education system»), Advisor to the head of Karaganda Oblast Karabanda region Sabit Kontaev («Modern personnel and professional qualifications of teachers of educational organizations»), the rector of the Kazakh National Women`s teacher training University Gaukhar Aldambergenova («Organization and passage of pedagogical practice in terms of the updated content of secondary education»), manager of «KASIP» «EDTECH-KZ» ICE project, Sabina Yakhyarova («Digital comprehensive vocational guidance system «KASIP»).

In his report, Takir Balykbayev told in detail about the problems of training teachers for educational organizations in Kazakhstan: «Teacher education requires changes in the content of the methodical training of future teachers. Big changes are already happening. An example of this is our university. Teachers of KazNPU undergo advanced training on the new content of school subjects in the Nazarbayev Intellectual School. In 2018, 32 teachers improved their qualifications. As special courses for students, criterion assessment is conducted. In December 2018, 455 graduate students were trained in introducing new educational content. For the teaching staff in April, an internship will be organized in schools for the updated content of school subjects. The state recognizes the special status of the teacher in society and seeks to create conditions for the implementation of high-quality professional activities. This is a salary increase, development and adoption of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On the status of a teacher», in which, in addition to the rights and duties of a teacher, separate articles include Respect for the honor and dignity of a teacher, Compliance with professional ethics, Continuity of pedagogical activity, Tolerance, Humanity. When discussing the problems of school education, school principals express a desire to take 3-4 courses to students. As part of the activities of pedagogical universities and educational departments to implement the decisions of the Educational Alliance, one of the areas of training graduates of schools to receive a pedagogical specialty is to determine from the number of 9th grade students who have a propensity for the teacher`s profession, based on the use of professional diagnostics KASIP TEST. The second step could be sending graduates of schools to universities at the request of regional education authorities without payment or with payment on an extrabudgetary basis - sponsors. This will allow selecting the most talented young people who are inclined to work as a teacher!».

During the meeting, the features of the school and university systems in Finland were discussed; problems of training of teachers, personnel qualifications of teachers, the organization and passage of teaching practice, exchange of experience. Further joint actions were determined on a permanent, effective basis, the work program of the Educational Alliance for the next three years.

Gani Beisembaev introduced the participants of the meeting with the Program «Roadmap for the training of teaching staff-2021», developed by the Educational Alliance, which was unanimously adopted and approved.

Concluding the event, Rector of the University Takir Balykbayev thanked the foreign guests and all the participants of the meeting for the fruitful work on the discussion of topical issues of teacher education.

Department of Public Relations