ETF COUNTRY INFORMATION FICHE: Kazakhstan Basic country data 1 : Total population: 16,909,776 (Last available year: 2013, The Agency of statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan) Young dependency ratio: 38.14 % (Last available year: 2013, World Bank) 12.0 GDP annual growth rate (%) 10.0 10.70 8.0 8.90 6.0 4.0 7.30 7.50 5.00 6.00 2.0 0.0 3.30 1.20 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Source: World Bank. 1 http://www.etf.europa.eu/web.nsf/pages/key_indicators_2014
25000 GDP per capita (current international $) 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Source: World Bank. 69 68 68 67 67 66 66 65 65 64 64 Employment rate 15+ (%) 67.8 67.9 67.1 66.4 66.1 65.3 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: The Agency of statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Unemployment rate (%) 14.0 12.0 12.1 10.0 9.4 8.0 6.0 7.3 7.4 6.7 6.6 6.6 5.8 5.4 5.3 4.0 2.0 5.2 4.6 3.9 0.0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total (15+) Youth (15-24) Source:The Agency of statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Share of VET in secondary education (%) 7 6.74 6.74 6.70 6 5.66 6.00 6.21 5.26 5 4 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: Unesco Institute of Statistics.
Public expenditure on education as share of GDP (%) 4 3 2.63 2.83 2.59 3.06 2 2006 2007 2008 2009 Source: Unesco Institute of Statistics. Kazakhstan is an upper middle-income country. The country has been able to sustain impressive constant economic growth since 2000, but forecasts for 2014-2017 (WB) foresee a slow-down, due to decreasing oil and gas and metal prices. Life expectancy has increased from 65.7 years in 2003 to 70.5 in 2013. Youth aged up to 15 made up 26.5% of the population in 2013. Thanks to the positive economic situation, the employment rate of the 15+ has been on a consistent rise, while the unemployment rate has demonstrated a downward trend. Youth unemployment is lower than overall unemployment, which is a truly exceptional situation. The public expenditure on education as a share of GDP has seen a slight increase between 2008 and 2009, but at 3.05% remains below the OECD average. The share of VET in secondary education has remained at a constant 6.7% from 2010-2012 and demonstrates that VET does not represent a preferred option. VET and employment policy progress since 2012 2 The state programme for the development of the education sector 2011-2020 has been adopted. Its implementation is being monitored on a regular basis and adjustments made. VET is seen as an important driver for economic development. Different policies and strategies are well integrated with each other. Thus for example the state programme of accelerated industrial and innovate development aims at diversifying the economy and enhance competitiveness, focuses also on the development of a well- qualified work force. A national qualification framework has been adopted. Occupational standards are being developed with the involvement of employers (over 150 already developed). Overall, the role of employers in VET has been considerably enhanced over recent years. The establishment of the Chamber of Entrepreneurs in 2013 (at national and regional level) has strengthened this role and is expected to support the involvement of Small and Medium Enterprises in VET. A roadmap for the implementation of the dual system has been adopted in autumn 2014 covering legal, institutional aspects as well as piloting of the new approach. There is strong emphasis on evidence-based policy making. The country regularly takes part in international surveys (PISA, PIIAC as of 2016) to benchmark itself against other systems and also to gain a better understanding of bottlenecks and address these. 2 ETF - Torino Process 2014: Kazakhstan
Country priorities for VET and employment reforms 3 : 1. To increase VET quality and attractiveness; 2. To continue strengthening education-business cooperation and work-based learning; 3. To provide high quality staff development opportunities for VET professionals (teachers, trainers and managers). ETF interventions The ETF will focus in 2015 on the area of education-business cooperation. Based on findings from the study on practices in education-business cooperation carried out in three regions of the country, the ETF will present results and propose recommendations. The ETF will engage with VET stakeholders (Ministry of Education and regional education departments, Kasipcor, the Chamber of Entrepreneurs and individual businesses as well as VET providers) at regional and national level to reflect which policies and practices can foster the further development of education-business cooperation in the different socio-economic regional contexts, and at national level. Kazakhstan participates with the Eastern European countries in the project on work-based learning. It will take part in a mapping exercise of policies and practice of work -based learning and in peer learning actions. Kazakhstan also participates in the VET school development cluster, which in 2015 will explore supply and demand for continuing professional development (CPD). Key donors in VET Since 2015 Kazakhstan is not a beneficiary of EU bilateral support. The country will continue to participate in EU regional initiatives, like the Central Asia Education Platform. The key donors in VET in Kazakhstan are GIZ and the World Bank (loan). GIZ is supporting the implementation of the roadmap for the introduction of the dual system, including the legal and institutional framework and piloting in regions for priority professions and capacity building for VET staff. A $ 147M World Bank loan covers the development of a policy framework and capacity development for Initial and Continuing VET, including occupational standards and corresponding programmes, measures to develop a re-training and further training offer for the employed and unemployed. Key publications Torino Process report 2014 Torino Process report 2012 3 Id.
ETF Country Desk Christine Hemschemeier Tel. +39.011.630.22.72 Christine.Hemschemeier@etf.europa.eu ETF Country Desk http://www.etf.europa.eu/web.nsf/pages/kazakhstan_en