Kazakhstan to Launch Digital Education Model with AI Focus by 2026

The President of Kazakhstan has declared 2026 the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, setting a national goal to transition the country's education system to an innovative and flexible model. This strategic move aims to cultivate a generation capable of effectively leveraging the opportunities of the global digital space and remaining competitive within a digital economy. Forecasts suggest that integrating AI and digital technologies could boost the education system's productivity by 10-15% by 2030.

The modern school is evolving into more than just a place for acquiring knowledge; it is becoming a space for developing critical thinking, project-based learning, and information-processing skills. To this end, curricula for "Digital Literacy" and "Computer Science" for grades 1-9 have been revised, establishing foundations for building digital competencies. The national education database on the "QazTech" platform and a unified educational platform are creating conditions for designing individual learning paths for students and optimizing teachers' daily workflows.

A key national project, "Qazaq Digital Mektebi," is successfully being implemented to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural schools. Domestic AI tools such as Roqed AI, Kashgari, Stem-solutions, and testter.kz are already being deployed. Pilot experiences in Astana schools No. 99, 101, 104, and 107 demonstrate that using artificial intelligence improves assignment grading efficiency and significantly reduces teachers' workloads.

Enhancing educators' competencies in working with AI tools is a state priority. In 2025, over 240 thousand teachers completed specialized courses on the "Өрлеу" platform. In 2026, as part of the "ChatGPT Edu" project, an additional 200 thousand specialists will learn to create their own AI assistants. These training programs cover all educational levels—from preschool to technical and vocational education.

Furthermore, through international cooperation, Kazakhstan is implementing a joint project with MIT called "Day of AI Qazaqstan." This initiative focuses on raising AI literacy among schoolchildren and integrating artificial intelligence elements into various academic subjects. Special courses for parents are also planned to actively involve them in the digital educational process.