Kazakhstan has reached a demographic milestone, with the population of the republic reaching 20 million people. While many Kazakhs celebrated this trend, expressing their joy included politicians, deputies, and even the head of the state. However, language issues persist.
As reported by Nege.kz, approximately 49% of schools in Kazakhstan provide education in languages other than Kazakh, despite Kazakhs constituting over 70% of the population.
Deputy Head of the National Statistics Bureau, Maxat Turlibaev, stated in an interview that the number of Kazakhs has reached 13.5 million. He also highlighted the extensive use of the Kazakh language in government institutions and mass media.
«According to the Ministry of Education, 67% of preschool institutions and 51% of schools provide education in the Kazakh language. However, I do not have information on the number of media outlets broadcasting materials exclusively in the Kazakh language; for this, one should refer to the Ministry of Culture and Information,» said Maxat Turlibaev.
Brain Drain to Russia
Language policy in education in Kazakhstan raises complex and significant questions, especially in the context of national and cultural aspects.
Omir Shynbekuly, a distinguished teacher in Kazakhstan, expressed concern about the situation. He noted that despite the majority of the population in Kazakhstan being Kazakhs, a significant portion of schools provides education in other languages, including Russian. He lamented that many talented and successful students choose to pursue higher education in Russia.
«Kazakhstan serves as a hub for preparing students for Russian universities, especially by maintaining Russian-language classes in schools. Representatives of Russian educational institutions conduct entrance exams among the best graduates of Kazakh schools. A significant number of the best graduates from Russian-language classes choose Russian universities for further education.
We need to focus on the Kazakh and English languages in education, reconsider the strategy of trilingual language instruction. Such an approach may reduce the need for Russian-language schools. This issue requires serious discussion, taking into account various factors, such as language rights, cultural needs, and the educational goals of the state.»
Media Landscape
According to the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, there are 5,407 registered media outlets in the country, including 3,779 periodic print publications, 194 TV channels, 85 radio stations, and 1,062 information agencies and online publications.
Information on the number of media outlets exclusively transmitting materials in the Kazakh language may be challenging to precisely determine. Many media outlets prefer multilingualism in their content, including both Kazakh and Russian languages, to attract a larger audience.
Director of the Arasha.kz website, Omirzhan Abdykalyk, asserts that the state supports media outlets broadcasting content exclusively in the Kazakh language. However, data on the quantity and specific media transmitting information solely in Kazakh may not always be unequivocally confirmed and readily available.
«Kazakhstan faces the challenge of preserving and developing the Kazakh language in the information space. Despite positive trends in the development of Kazakh-language media in recent years, state media still lacks popularity in the country. This is due to the dominance of the Russian language, which is used for publishing, distributing, and consuming information.
State support for Kazakh-language media exists, but it remains insufficient for their active development. Preserving and promoting the Kazakh language become significant issues, considering language preferences in education and everyday communication.
The birth of five infants symbolically reflects the positive demographic trend in the country while raising the question of whether they will attend Kazakh schools and use the state language in the future. This presents a relevant challenge for Kazakhstan in preserving linguistic and cultural identity amidst the diversity and multiethnicity of the population.»
