On May 15, Minister of Education Askhat Aimagambetov responded to parents of Kazakhstani schoolchildren who signed a petition against legitimizing distance learning, Toppress.kz correspondent reports. The petition “in favour of traditional full-time schooling” has been so far signed by almost 20,000 people.
We, the parents of Kazakhstani children, express our protest against the plans to legitimize distance learning. We are categorically against the fact that after quarantine measures are lifted, some specific subjects will be taught in digital format from now on. We insist that our children’s right to secondary education, enshrined in the article 30 of the Constitution, is provided in full and in all disciplines without exception with the direct participation of professional educators, the petition says.
Aimagambetov stressed the distance learning was a necessary measure that the country took due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
We were faced with the task of protecting students’ and employees’ health without interrupting the educational process. I believe that, despite some overlaps, in general, the process was organized well. Nevertheless, we all understand that today the most effective and convenient format is traditional full-time education at school. No one is canceling the traditional full-time schooling, Aimagambetov said.
The minister explained why it is still necessary to develop distance learning technologies and conduct school informatization.
Take, for example, a situation where students skip classes due to weather conditions and then catch up on missed program material with the help of online learning as an additional opportunity and alternative. Or a situation when a child has to stay home due to health reasons. We all understand that studying at school full-time is the best option, and we hope that the next academic year will be held within the walls of schools, he concluded.
