Reporting on the prospects for the development of the system of technical and vocational education, the Minister of Education and Science Kulyash Shamshidinova told that 199 thousand people are studying under the project “Free Vocational Education for All.” Over the past three years, equipment for 3.7 billion tenge has been purchased. There are 821 colleges in Kazakhstan. 71% of state colleges provide training for technical specialists, 67% of private colleges — for humanitarian and economic specialists.

To obtain effective results in providing the labor market with highly qualified personnel, it is planned to transfer colleges into trust management. Today, 150 production leaders in various sectors of the economy have already shown interest in participating in this process.

“In order to attract employers to the training process, it is necessary to create conditions for business by simplifying credit and tax procedures, and also to train specialists in accordance with the real needs of the labor market,” said Shamshidinova.

In addition, it is planned to develop a dual education through the stimulation of enterprises by reimbursing their costs for industrial training.

Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Berdibek Saparbayev reported on the development of modern professional standards. According to him, by 2025, significant changes are expected in the labor market, including the increase in qualification requirements.

“The additional need for personnel is estimated to be more than 573 thousand people, an increase in the number of medium and highly skilled jobs is expected,” Saparbayev informed. To address the needs of the labor market in personnel, by the end of 2019, a National System for Forecasting Labor Resources will be formed, which will generate demand for people in the economy.

To meet the needs of the labor market with qualified labor resources, 106 professional standards were developed, which reflect the employers' requirements for the knowledge, skills and competencies of employees. In 2019 it is planned to develop and adopt 480 professional standards and 38 sectoral qualifications frameworks for 12 priority sectors.

In addition, the Roadmap for the Development of the National Qualifications System until 2025 is being created for the further improvement of the qualification system.

In turn, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs Olzhas Ordabayev spoke about approaches to improve the employment process as part of the development of vocational education. Akims of the Atyrau region Nurlan Nogayev, North Kazakhstan — Kumar Aksakalov reported on the implementation of the program and future plans.

The representatives of business and higher educational institutions also spoke at the meeting: Head of AgroDamu LLP Ruslan Bukeyev, Rector of Kostanay State University named after Baitursynov Alma Doschanova. Participants shared college management experiences.

Deputy Prime Minister Gulshara Abdykalikova noted that it is important to apply several directions for the improvement of technical and vocational training, including the development of dual education and facilitation of college management processes, refreshment of the material and technical base of colleges in accordance with modern requirements. In addition, it is necessary to work out the issues of attracting business to the development of vocational education.