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The current status was discussed in an open format with the participation of outside experts and representatives of the Education Department. Within the session on the progress of the national project ‘Comfortable School’ Chairman of the Board of Samruk-Kazyna Construction JSC Maulen Aimanbetov presented a report highlighting the key aspects and actual results of the project.

It became known that the first schools built under the National Project will be commissioned at the beginning of the academic year. According to the contracts concluded with contractors, the deadline for commissioning of comfortable schools is December 15 this year. However, thanks to the EPC contracts, which allow designing and construction and installation works to be carried out in parallel, most of the facilities will be commissioned earlier than the contractual deadlines.

In his report, the head of JSC ‘Samruk-Kazyna Construction’ said that to date, within the framework of the National Project is under construction 208 schools for 434,600 pupils. Of these, 20 schools (57,000 seats) are scheduled to be commissioned on 1 September 2024, 17 schools (39,600 seats) - at the end of September, 61 schools (109,400 seats) - at the end of October, 66 schools (131,000 seats) - 15 December this year. Completion of 44 schools (for 97,600 places) will be transferred to 2025 for various reasons. Also on the status of receiving the conclusion of the state expertise it was informed that 169 objects have already received positive conclusions, and the design plans of 39 objects are under consideration.

At the same time, it was reported at the meeting that it would be hasty to speak about any gross disruption of prescriptively set deadlines, as the current pace of construction of comfortable schools is significantly ahead of the existing norms. For example, if according to the approved normative requirements for the construction of a general education school for 2000 seats located in Kendala mkr. of Karaganda city the term of 28 months is given, according to the directive - 18 months, and in fact this school was built in 9 months. Or if according to the regulations it would take 18 months to build a 600-seat school No. 97 instead of the demolished one in Almaty, then within the framework of the National Project only 10 months were spent.

‘No state has ever implemented such a large-scale project, no one has built such a number of modern schools in 3 years. We must realise that the project is a pilot one and the emergence of certain problems to be solved is quite a normal working process. But I want to assure you that proper quality of construction works is the main priority of our work. Safety of children is the first priority and all measures are taken to ensure their comfort and security. We cooperate with construction organisations and domestic manufacturers to take into account all possible aspects to create optimal learning conditions. Together we not only construct buildings, but also shape the future generations by providing access to quality education in modern, safe and functional educational institutions,’ emphasised Maulen Aimanbetov.

In particular, during the meeting, questions were addressed regarding the financing of the National Project, selection and qualification of contractors, monitoring of the quality and transparency of construction, quality and use of domestic products, safety measures in comfortable schools, recruitment of teachers and other staff, social assistance and creation of an inclusive barrier-free environment.

Most of all, the public were interested in the issues of construction quality and monitoring the transparency of the movement of allocated funds, to which the representatives of the single operator gave a comprehensive answer. Thus, within the framework of the national project JSC ‘Samruk-Kazyna Construction’ for the first time in Kazakhstan's construction sphere introduced a new electronic platform E-Qurylys, thanks to which the openness and transparency of the entire construction process has been achieved, and authorised bodies have full access to all documentation in electronic format. Undoubtedly, the E-Qurylys platform has saved time and eliminated paperwork.

The quality of construction is controlled by technical supervision specialists, who monitor the compliance of works with the requirements, being directly at the site, and upload reports to E-Qurylys.

One of the key issues of concern to the public was the issue of ensuring safety in comfortable schools. The speakers noted that comfortable schools are equipped with modern security systems that provide parents with confidence in the protection of their children. Video surveillance cameras and access control and management systems (ACCS) are installed in educational institutions.

The issue of inclusion is also important: barrier-free space for children with special educational needs is given increased attention. Entrance groups, staircases, ramps, lifts and other facilities for children with special needs are designed in accordance with state standards (SP RK 3.06-101-2012 ‘Design of buildings and structures taking into account accessibility for low-mobility groups of population’), everything is taken into account to provide the necessary amenities. Compliance with these standards and requirements is under strict control of experts of technical and author's supervision.

At the same time, the speakers emphasised that local executive bodies under the guidance of the Ministry of Education are actively engaged in the recruitment of teachers and other employees to comfortable schools and the recruitment of pupils.

‘We are closely following the implementation of the national project ‘Comfortable School’ and welcome the readiness to discuss all relevant issues. The pilot project sets modern standards not only for schools of general education, but also for the entire construction industry of Kazakhstan, so openness and transparency are key priorities in this process’, - summarised the Chairman of the Public Council Bolat Zhamishev.

Recall, the national project ‘Comfortable School’ was initiated by the head of state and is aimed at addressing issues such as the elimination of three-shift education, shortage of places and emergency schools throughout Kazakhstan. According to the official forecast, by 2027 the number of children in the country will increase to 8 million. The forecast deficit of pupil places at the beginning of 2026, taking into account birth rates, urbanisation, internal migration and wear and tear of buildings is estimated at 1 million 117 thousand. The pilot national project ‘Comfortable School’ will significantly reduce this deficit.