Vocational education in Kazakhstan

Training schools, lycees, and colleges

Vocational education in Kazakhstan

Students in Kazakhstan who are not planning on going to university have the option of continuing their education in training schools, lycees, and colleges to learn a trade or skillset. Students who attend one of these do however have the option to go on to university if they later decide to.

Training schools and lycees

Education is free in Kazakhstan’s training schools, barring the possibility of having to cover the costs of textbooks and special equipment. Students attend these schools for one to three years, depending on their chosen course, of which all are vocational.

Students leave training schools equipped with the knowledge to proceed to work or continue their education at a university.

There is little difference between training schools and lycees in Kazakhstan, other than that in lycees basic academic education is also offered, and that all courses last three years.

Colleges

Colleges in Kazakhstan are state-run and provided to pupils for free in a bid to decrease the amount of students leaving at the age of 15, the age at which education is no longer compulsory. Students must pay for their own textbooks, however.  

Students can attend colleges to take part in further vocational training, with courses in general academia also available. The Ministry of Education sets the college system’s curriculum.

Students who have already attended upper secondary education and vocational training can receive an accelerated course in Kazakhstan’s colleges.

Further reading

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