JSC “Information-Analytic Center” conducted 3 sociological surveys in 2014 on: 1) population satisfaction with education reforms by level, 2) education and science system indicators, and 3) satisfaction with the Ministry of Education and Science's activities. The first survey of 6,400 people found moderate satisfaction with reforms but issues with awareness, access, and quality. The second survey of 3,172 people identified factors limiting education quality and system issues. The third survey of 3,000 people found generally positive views of the Ministry's work though dissatisfaction with higher education and science development. All surveys highlighted the need for better public awareness, stakeholder engagement, and continued reform.

1. JSC «Information - Analytical Centre»
REPORT
ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
1. "An assessment of satisfaction of the population with
reforms in education sphere by levels"
2. "Survey of the population within indicators framework
of education and science system by SQI"
3. "Assessment of satisfaction with MES RK's activities"
2014

2. JSC “Information-Analytic Center” has conducted three
sociological researches jointly with sociological agencies in 2014.
Results of researches have showed the following results.
1. "An assessment of satisfaction of the population with reforms in
education sphere by levels" (together with "The center of studying the
public opinion", 6400 respondents).
Brief information on the organization:
The main field - sociological and market researches, coverage across
Kazakhstan and the countries of Central Asia. 25 years of expertise in the market.
Resources:
a) Own well-adjusted regional network across Kazakhstan;
b) 345 constant interviewers in all regions of the country;
c) 18 skilled supervisors;
d) 12 professional employees at the office of the company in Almaty;
e) Monitoring service in Almaty.
CSPO's personnel is experts in the field of sociology, economy and public opinion
in Kazakhstan, experts of the international organizations, members of the
international associations.
Own material resource base and office, computer and audiovisual equipment,
large and specialized types of various surveys across Kazakhstan and Central
Asia.
The purpose of this sociological research is the assessment of
satisfaction of the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the
reforms in education sphere by levels as follows: preschool education
and training, secondary education, technical and professional
education, higher and postgraduate education.
Research problems:
1.To study opinions of the population of RoK on the quality of
education;
2.To evaluate the satisfaction of the population of RK with the
reforms in education:
2.1 in preschool education and training
2.2 in secondary education
2.3 in technical and professional education
2.4 in higher and postgraduate education.

3. Data collection method – the individual standardized interview in
the form of personal survey.
The statistical error at this volume of selection won't exceed 1,2%
at a confidential interval of 95%.
According to the research results about a third of the population
(28,7%) are constantly interested, try to be keep up with all changes,
a little more than half of citizens (53%) are interested in educational
innovations from time to time.
Thus more than 53% of respondents have noticed the insufficient
level of awareness of the population on innovations in the education
system. 77% of respondents have indicated the need to enhance this
direction.
50% of respondents aren't informed about the creation of a
network of world-class colleges "Kasipkor", 45% - about the
introduction of per capita financing, 43% - about the introduction of
dual system in colleges and 38% - about the social mechanism SESS.
According to the research results, the respondents have
designated three key problems of education system:
53,0%
15,1%
3,2%
28,7%
I'm sometimes interested in/I'm interested from time to time
I'm not interested at all
It's difficult to answer
I'm constantly interested in, try to keep up with all the changes

4. - corruption in education establishments (46%),
- incompetence of educators (41%),
- lack of access to the higher education (36%).
76% of respondents have supported the educational policy of
the country.
The following percent of respondents has noted its dissatisfaction
with reforms in education:
- 28% - with the level of preschool education because of waiting
lists in the state kindergartens, overpopulation of groups, low
qualification and shortage of teachers (86,3% of unsatisfied
respondents have pointed out the limited access to kindergartens to
be the main cause)
- 15% - with the admission to the 1 st grade of children aged 6,
division of SNT, introduction to the system of secondary education of
per capita financing,
- 14% - with the lack of experience and low level of training of
VET graduates, weak MTI of colleges, complexity of employment,
- 14% - with the high cost of education and corruption in higher
education institutions, low level of faculty's training, absence of
demand of graduates of the Kazakhstan higher education institutions.
In total, 65,8% of the population are satisfied with reforms in
preschool education and the Balapan program; 81,3% of the
population - in the sphere of secondary education; 78,8% - in VET and
79,9% - in system of the higher and postgraduate education.
Considering that some reforms haven't been realized in the
education system yet, and pass the preparatory or probation period
(introduction of 12-years education, division of SNT into two stages,
introduction of per capita financing in secondary education and at
the level of VET, creation of world-class colleges "Kasipkor") then the
satisfaction percent of 76,45% (average at all levels) testifies to high
expectations of society.
The lowest level of population's satisfaction is observed on the
following reforms:

5. The highest level of population's satisfaction is observed on the
following reforms:
There is a moderate positive dependence of the level of
satisfaction with reforms on degree of awareness of the population
and innovations in education (Pearson's coefficient of correlation of
0,442).
When planning educational policy 39% of respondents as
recommendations pointed out to the need of studying the public
opinion, 36% - the international experience, 30% - carrying out the
qualitative analysis of the current situation and 18% - continuity of
reforms.
2. "Survey of the population within indicators framework of
education and science system by SQI" (together with Research
institute "Sange", 3172 respondents).
Brief information on the organization:

6. Exists in the market of sociological services since 1993. Renders services to
businesses, state agencies and the international organizations, and also
cooperates with SPA, in particular:
• international organizations - the World Bank, UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF,
Fund of Democracy of the UN, OSCE, the European Commission, ABR, etc.;
• government bodies – the Senate of Parliament of RK, MED, MES, MLESP,
MF, APS, Water Committee, RK Agency on statistics, etc.;
• non-governmental sector – Soros Kazakhstan Fund, Eurasia Fund, Civil
Alliance, Association of taxpayers of Kazakhstan, etc.
Over the years of its existence the organization has implemeneted
52 projects in education and employment of youth.
The purpose - identification of the reasons of low indicators of SQI
in education and search of prospects for their growth.
Tasks:
1. to provide comparability with SQI
2. to reveal problems in educational process
3. to reveal problems in management, organization, and
motivation
4. to define a difference in the points of view of the parties
Data collection method – personal interview "face-to-face" and
in-depth interviews within focus groups.
Interviews with the employers, experts in education, students,
parents have identified the following factors of low indicators of
Kazakhstan in SQI:
- imperfection of methodological base, including imbalance of
the theory and practice,
- lack of qualified personnel at all education levels, weak
management,
- low prestige of teacher profession and low salaries,
- lack of systematic work with students from vulnerable segments
of the population,
- lack of mechanisms of interaction with the parental public and
businesses,

7. - accountability and transparency of education.
Programs and textbooks have been thoroughly evaluated on
compliance with modern requirements, balance of the theory and
practice in primary and basic secondary education:
The weak point in management of the organizations at all levels
is the lack of communication of the educational organizations with
business. In the assessment of management of education system the
weak point is insufficient orientation to market requirements, inability
to forecast.
Require improvement: %
Development of state programs, reforms 48
Exchange of experience, coordination 37
Work planning at all levels of 36
Determination of teachers' salaries 35
Selection of curricula/textbooks 35

8. Tracking the after-life of graduates as an ultimate indicator
of learning success
35
Motivation, incentive scheme 34
Determination of academic load on students 32
Work with parents, the public 32
Interaction with businesses and partners on improving the
quality of education
31
Upon that 64% of business representatives expressed their
willingness to assist in updating the schools' MTI , 62% - in employment
of graduates of colleges and universities, 59%- financial support, 42%
- sponsoring of teachers' advanced training and only 16% have
proposed to take part in the work of advisory and supervisory boards.
57% of employers have pointed out to the lack of mechanisms
to involve businesses in implementing the priorities of education.
Businesses advised to encourage their participation in
investment of education through PPP arrangements, tax cuts for
employers who invest in education.
In general the study to improve the surveyed indicators of
education, SQI is recommended:
- to strengthen interaction between educational institutions and
enterprises,
- to radically update professional educational programs,
- to create a system for tracking the trajectory of the professional
development of graduates,
- to develop tools to assess the effectiveness of educational
reforms.
3. "Assessment of satisfaction with MES RK's activities" (together
with Public Opinion Institute, 3000 respondents).
Brief information on the organization:
The Institute was formed in 2013 by the group of sociologists with
professional experience of more than 15 years.
The Institute specializes in the public opinion research, and carries out the
marketing and sociological studies in Kazakhstan and other countries, such as

9. Central Asia, Western Europe, Russia, China, Mongolia, Turkey, USA, Canada, and
so on.
The Institute’s special area of business is «Public Opinion», scientific work.
Institute staff regularly participate in the academic basic research and regularly
publish articles in various worldwide scientific journals.
Research objective – an assessment of satisfaction of the
population of the Republic of Kazakhstan with quality of the work
which is carried out by the Ministry of Education and Science of RK.
Main research objectives:
1) research of the level of satisfaction of the population with the
solution of problems by MES;
2) definition of criteria by which the population estimates the
performance of the Ministry;
3) assessment of satisfaction with access and quality of
information on work of MES and its interaction with citizens;
4) assessment of MES experts' performance for obtaining the
recommendations allowing to improve MES's performance.
Data collection method - mass survey of the population and
experts in education through personal interview with respondents on
the basis of in pre-engineered questionnaire. Answers in the
questionnaire were filled by interviewers in writing.
66% of respondents have noted that MES has succeeded in the
development of education and science, general progress is evident.
1/5 of respondents aren't informed on work of the Ministry.
The population expresses the lowest satisfaction with
performance of the Ministry in development of science (26%) and
higher education (25%). Ministry is best at ensuring the rights and
interests of children, creation of necessary conditions for education.
78% of respondents receive information on activity of the Ministry
from TV. Considerably less used source of information is the MES RK
web-site (27%).
The following results on satisfaction with work of MES and
availability of information on its activity were received:

10. Ok Quite OK
Rather not
OK
Unsatisfact
ory
At a loss
to answer.
Quality of information on work of MES 22,9 42,3 13,4 4,4 17,0
Availability of information on
Ministry’s activity
20,1 41,2 14,7 5,4 18,6
Data on satisfaction with performance in education has
provided the following results:
Areas
Satisfied
Rather
satisfied
Total of
«satisfied
»
Rather
dissatisfi
ed
Dissatisfi
ed
Total of
«dissatisfi
ed»
Not
faced
At a loss
to
answer.
Secondary
education
32,9 43,1 76 13,0 8,2 21,2 1,1 1,7
Pre-school
education and
training
36,1 38,3 74,4 14,6 4,9 19,5 3,5 2,6
Higher
education
26,7 41,8 68,5 16,7 8,5 25,2 2,0 4,3
Technical and
vocational
education
(colleges)
25,2 42,9 68,1 14,8 6,5 21,3 5,4 5,2
Postgraduate
education
(masters,
doctoral,
postgraduate
studies, etc.)
23,0 36,4 59,4 15,0 7,2 22,2 9,4 9,0
Scientific
development
18,8 30,7 49,5 18,8 7,6 26,4 8,7 15,4
Failure to obtain necessary information and lack of feedback
have been indicated by 11% of specialists in the field of education.
Thus for improvement of quality of MES work, the experts have
proposed to cut the operational reporting, educational progress
measurements, to involve in development of methodological base of
experienced teachers in the country.
The population is not sufficiently informed about the powers of
MES and MHC. Up to 20% respondents felt that the issues of registration
of documents for admission in schools and kindergartens, the
appointment of the heads of the education organizations, school
meals and textbooks are in the competence of the MES.