Schools

Wednesday, 28 October 2009 02:11

  ‘It is impossible to live without knowledge in the 21st century.
Consequently, I would like to thank people who contributed to opening these educational establishments.’
The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Nursultan Nazarbayev

Kazakhs and Turks are related nations having common historical roots and generic family line. In both nations’ vision the characters from Korkyt Ata stories and Akhmet Yassavi’s wisdom have great impact.
Kazakh-turkish high schools are the realisation of our ancestors’ dreams.
The above mentioned institutions were first opened with the support of two states’ presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev and Turgut Ozal in 1992-1993. Those days being only 4, at present these schools’ number reached 28.

Aims of kazakh-turkish high schools 

To bring up a younger generation in order for them to be knowledgeable, multilingual, competitive for their country’s welfare, patriotic, respectful towards elders and helpful towards juniors, instilled with national values and capable of saving them faithfully, and imparted with the sense of friendship and kinship eager to live in peace and harmony with the others. 
 

 The system of education in four languages in Kazakh-turkish high schools

A great emphasis is given to teaching languages using advanced international methods in kazakh-turkish high schools.
In these establishments education is provided in four languages (Kazakh, Russian, English, Turkish). To be precise, a foreign language (English), mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology are taught in English; Kazakh language, Kazakh literature, Kazakh language (for students educated in Russian), Kazakh literature (for students educated in Russian), social sciences, fundamentals of law, history of Kazakhstan, general history, geography, physical education, fundamentals of military training are taught in Kazakh; Russian language and Russian literature are taught in Russian, and Turkish language is taught in Turkish respectively.    
Kazakh language (for students educated in Kazakh) – at the same level as of other Kazakh schools
Kazakh language (for students educated in Russian) – at a deeper level than that of other Russian schools
Russian language – at the same level as of other Kazakh schools
As for the English language, at the end of the 7th grade students master the language at an intermediate level, while at the end of the 11th grade they fully master the language at an advanced level.
Turkish language is taught at an elementary level in the 7th grade and further on in the upper grades it is taught at intermediate and upper-intermediate levels.

Teaching state language (Kazakh) in kazakh-turkish high schools

Taking into account a famous Kazakh poet and writer K.Mirzaliyev’s words that say‘Learn other languages, but firstly value your mother tongue’, kazakh-turkish high schools while paying immense attention to teaching foreign languages, also give great emphasis to teaching Kazakh language.
As it was mentioned above, since one of kazakh-turkish high schools’ main aims is to bring up true patriots and heirs of national values, it is of paramount importance to make students master the Kazakh language as their state and mother tongues respectively. That is why, with the support of ‘KATEV’ International Foundation, Kazakh language department and the teachers of Kazakh language organized fairs called ‘A great support to Kazakh language’ in order to elevate the status of Kazakh language in the country. This fair was organized in all cities of Kazakhstan. Together with teachers students took an active part too. Besides, it has become a tradition to hold a Kazakh language Olympiad among 8-11 grade students of kazakh-turkish high schools. Students benefit greatly from this Olympiad and another its essence is that it is different from the fixed regional Olympiad organized in the country which is majorly focused on grammar in that it enables to reveal students’ various skills. Precisely, the Olympiad comprises several sections.
1st section. ‘Language study’ – in this section students’ knowledge of Kazakh language grammar is evaluated.
2nd section. ‘Coherence of speech’ – in this section students’ fluent speech, understanding the meaning of concrete words, recognizing literature patterns are assessed.
3rd section. ‘Singer nightingale’ – the objectives of this section is to propagate the Kazakh folk songs and to define the gifted youth and help them develop their talents.
4th section. ‘Stage dramatists’ – the objectives of this section is to propagate the masterpieces of Kazakh poets and writers, spread the plays with good manners.
5th section. ‘Young intellectuals’ – project works on national values are examined.
In addition, in order to engage the students’ interest in literature an essay-writing competition is held every year. As a result of this contest, the best essays are compiled and published in a book. All of these events provide a solid ground for the fact that in kazakh-turkish high schools Kazakh language plays a pivotal role and is regarded with exceptional respect.

Teaching English in kazakh-turkish high schools

With a view to present-day requirements, in 21st century Kazakhstani people visit other countries for state or personal purposes (these might be political, economical, educational or technological relations).
The purpose of teaching natural sciences in English in kazakh-turkish high schools is to compete and keep up with the advances in the field of science and technology (to save time not by means of translation but by having a direct access to information and research). Introducing to the country new knowledge and technology by making high-quality translations is the outcome of knowing a foreign language. Consequently, teaching natural sciences in English, an international communication language, is beneficial for Kazakhstan’s youth and its future. Moreover, students of our schools go to Britain and America every year to study languages in summer schools there. During those summer courses students not only learn the language but also have good rest and get acquainted with a new culture.  

Teaching Russian in kazakh-turkish high schools

Kazakhstan is a multinational country. Russian language is used for daily communication among these nationality representatives, thus, making it necessary to learn the language. Besides, the pupils educated in Russian schools are among the applicants to the kazakh-turkish high school. That is why, teaching this language is taken into account so that those students would not forget it and other nationality representatives could have the possibility to study it. Due to historical interrelation in science and art, it is mandatory that Russian language be taught for Kazakhstan’s past, present and future relationships in these fields.

Teaching Turkish in kazakh-turkish high schools

By taking into consideration a proverb saying ‘By knowing seven languages, you know seven type of knowledge’, a speaker of seventy languages, Al-Farabi’s followers, by means of speaking several language, are able to contribute to keeping their country up with the other countries. Learning Turkish provides the development of the two countries’ partnership in culture and commerce.

Computer-based education

   One of the priorities in education of kazakh-turkish high schools is to provide students with sophisticated computer literacy. Accordingly, kazakh-turkish high schools are well-equipped with modern computer laboratories. Along with learning advanced computer programs both in theory and practice, our students have instant access to world news by using the Internet. Especially, computers are widely used in teaching foreign languages and natural sciences.

Student admission in kazakh-turkish high schools

   Entrance examination to kazakh-turkish high schools is held on the last Sunday of April annually for the 6th graders. The examination consists of two rounds. In the first round students’ knowledge level is defined by means of testing. This test takes place in all kazakh-turkish high schools at the same day and time throughout Kazakhstan. The test mainly consists of logical questions and mathematics problems based on the curriculum of the 6th grade. The test questions are prepared in two languages: Kazakh and Russian. The first 70-100 students (this number may vary according to school’s capacity) with high scores are accepted to the second round. The students stay in the school’s dormitory the whole week. The aim of the second round is to identify the students’ skills to learn languages and their ability to study in a boarding school. At the end of the week students are tested on the material they acquired during the week. The ones with high scores and high ken knowledge, being able to stay in dormitory, clever, thriving for knowledge, and being capable to communicate with others are admitted to kazakh-turkish high schools.

Teaching staff of kazakh-turkish high schools

Teachers that are sincere, capable, responsible, having sufficient knowledge of their subject, paying great attention to communication with students and loving their job work in kazakh-turkish high schools. In order to update skills and qualifications of teachers various seminars and methodological discussions are held throughout the academic year.

Parents union of kazakh-turkish high schools

A parent-student-school methodological triangle functions in kazakh-turkish high schools on the regular basis. The reason for this is that both parents and teachers thrive for one aim only. However important for parents’ their children’s future may be, students’ upbringing as confident personalities is also that much essential for their teachers. That is why, they together participate as much as they could in educational process. To be precise, according to class teacher and tutors’ educational curriculum parents are invited every week to give talks on vitally important issues of every-day life. These weekly meetings play pivotal role in children’s upbringing because parents share their valuable life experiences with the students. Besides, school administrations organize inner-school and inter-schools sports tournaments for parents every year. In particular, football, chess and volleyball tournaments are held among parents. The winners of the tournaments are rewarded with diplomas and prizes. These tournaments are held in various cities of Kazakhstan. It is beyond doubt that such social activities foster the relationships and understanding among parents, students and school.

Graduates of kazakh-turkish high schools

Every year students get their tickets to life by graduating from kazakh-turkish high schools. Each of them, applying education obtained from the school appropriately, is known to be a well-qualified and sophisticated specialist in their spheres. The reason for that is that kazakh-turkish high school graduates get high scores in university entrance examination every year. Precisely speaking, 99% of all graduates get enrolled in universities. At present, our graduates are studying in different leading universities in Kazakhstan and abroad (USA, Turkey, Australia, China, UK, Malaysia, Canada, South Korea, etc.).      

Extra-curricular educational work in kazakh-turkish high schools

Educational work of kazakh-turkish high schools is based on the educational program for I-XI grades of general education institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This educational program comprises 9 directions.
1st direction. Students are brought up to kindness and humaneness by means of national conduct codes, traditions and ways. On this ground, talks, lectures and discussions are implemented.

2nd direction. This direction presumes involving youngsters to work. In this case, specialists from different fields are invited to school to give talks about students’ future occupation choices. Moreover, discussions and trainings are organized too.

3rd direction. Teaching art and aesthetics direction. In the content of this direction lies taking students to theatres, various conferences, art and photo art galleries, documentary films demonstration in order to develop them to be all-round personalities.

4th direction. Instilling in students political awareness and patriotism. In order to inspire in students the senses of love and respect towards their motherland, many social activities are organized. Namely, programs, social events, essay, drawing and song contests on such topics as ‘Your native land – your support’, ‘Kazakhstan – a mother country’ are held. The winners of these contests are rewarded with prizes.

5th direction. Teaching respect and international friendship, i.e. learning to honor other nationality representatives’ history and culture. The aim of this direction is to teach living in peace and harmony with others in our common home – multinational Kazakhstan.

6th direction. Teaching environment and citizenship responsibilities. This direction enables to educate awareness and care for the environment by taking students to nature trips. Besides, it covers acquainting students with ‘Protecting environment law of the Republic of Kazakhstan’.
To add, as a result of this educational work, on 26-31 of October of 2009 an ecology project prepared by students of our schools was awarded with the First prize in international MOSTRATEC environment project Olympiad that took place in Brazilian New Hamburg.

7th direction. This direction deals with fostering youngsters’ esteem towards Kazakh language and extend its usage area. To realize this idea many activities are organized in schools. Both teachers and students participate actively in these projects. These projects are conducted by means of essay contests, political awareness lessons and various meetings.

8th direction. Fostering students’ craving for knowledge. This is implemented through engaging students in interesting activities and taking into account their personal abilities. In particular, students are mostly involved in university preparation studies and preparatory courses for science Olympiads.
The proof of this successful implementation is the high results that students of kazakh-turkish high schools achieve in regional, republican and international Olympiads; high scores in university entrance examination and, of course, scrupulous work and academic achievement of their teachers.

9th direction. Developing physical education. Meetings with professional doctors are organized whom students can consult and ask worrying questions on any topic including AIDS and many other. In addition, a great many sports events take place in schools to encourage healthy living and keeping fit.

From points listed above, it is doubtlessly obvious that it is given great emphasis to engaging students in extra-curricular educational activities. Beyond these, many social and cultural activities are organized to bring students up as many-sided personalities and to develop their different skills. To apply this, various clubs work in schools that pursue different interests of students such as painting, singing, dancing, sports and, of course, computers. These clubs function as preparatory steps for students to social life. Social activities provide students’ becoming confident, esthetic and many-sided personalities with a clear vision of the future. Moreover, meetings with famous Kazakhstani poets, writers and intellectuals are held in schools too. Also, to get students to know well their history and culture trips to museums and Kazakh historical places and cities are turned into traditions. In summer, students visit native speaking countries to learn languages. Having visited America and Britain, students not only learn a language and have reat but find many new friends and broaden their minds.

School-dormitory

In kazakh-turkish high schools, all facilities are provided for students to stay in dormitories. In dormitory, under the guidance of tutors, students are supplied with possibilities to practice foreign languages, work in groups, develop collective conscious, prepare for lessons in an appropriate way, and develop mutual respect and unity. After the lessons students have evening self-preparation hours to do their homework. Advantageous aspect of these hours is that special teacher in charge helps students explain the points they have not understood well. Besides, each class has class hours with their tutor on different topics. Parents are too invited to the dormitory for talks. It is quite useful for both parents and students. Parents have a unique opportunity to personally see the place where their children stay, their friends and their environment. Obviously, this serves to consolidate trust and admiration among parents, students and school.