Almaty Schools to Address Space Crunch by Decreasing Shortage by 73 Percent
Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, is set to witness an education revolution with the commissioning of new schools and extensions, aimed at addressing the shortage of school places.
According to a report by Almaty.tv, the meeting, attended by Mayor Bakytzhan Sagintayev and heads of educational institutions, discussed the progress of addressing the shortage of school places. The city is currently home to 276 schools, catering to over 288,000 students, a number that has increased by 12,000 due to the pandemic.
Two private schools with 1,390 places have been completed this year with private investments, and another two private schools with 900 places are under construction. The first new educational facilities are expected to be commissioned by the beginning of the 2021-2022 academic year.
Under the "Employment Roadmap" until 2022, the construction of 8 schools with 12,600 places and 13 extensions with 6,550 places is planned. The construction of 4 extensions with 1,838 places is already underway in the Zerde residential area of Alatau district.
A school with 600 places in the Zerde residential area of Alatau district is planned to be built using budget-investment project funds. The first new educational facilities are expected to significantly reduce the shortage of school places, with an estimated reduction of 73%.
Over 27,000 children have been admitted to the first grade, adding to the city's growing student population.
While Kazakhstan's construction sector is expanding, with the industry expected to grow by 6.8% in 2025, bolstered by investments mainly in transport infrastructure, manufacturing, and industrial projects, there is no explicit, detailed public report from the current searches on an accelerated public program to construct schools in Almaty specifically until 2025.
For authoritative and updated details on such a program, checking official government releases from the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan, or Almaty city’s development plans would be advisable. These sources typically publish strategic documents on infrastructure and educational facility construction.
Notable education-related developments include the planned opening of a new branch of Charterhouse School, an international school, in Almaty in September 2026, reflecting ongoing private sector investment in education infrastructure. There are also international education fairs happening in Almaty in 2025 to boost school partnerships and recruitment, which signal active engagement in education development.
[1] Source: Kazakhstan Construction Industry Growth Predicted at 6.8% in 2025 (https://www.construction.kz/en/news/kazakhstan-construction-industry-growth-predicted-at-68-in-2025)
[2] Source: Charterhouse School to Open New Branch in Almaty in 2026 (https://www.charterhousealmaty.kz/)
[4] Source: International Education Fairs in Almaty 2025 (https://www.edukaz.kz/)
In alignment with the ongoing education revolution, the construction of eight schools with 12,600 places and thirteen extensions with 6,550 places is planned under the "Employment Roadmap" until 2022, aiming to address the education-and-self-development needs of the growing population in Almaty. Additionally, the commissioning of new private schools, such as the schools currently under construction with a capacity of 900 places each, will contribute to this goal.
