Proposed New Topic for Primary School Education
Firing Up Education: Advocates Push for Human Rights Classes in Kazakh Schools
In a recent Senate meeting, Deputy Chairman Askar Shakirov and MP Nur Tore Zhusip suggested a bold move to beef up the nation's educational system. They proposed the inclusion of a new subject focused on human rights in primary school classes, as reported by tengrinews.kz.
Zhusip emphasized, "With ongoing advancements in child rights protection mechanisms, it's crucial to build their legal understanding and instill universal human values. The escalating problem of violence can be found not only within families, but also in schools and on the streets. Consequently, we recommend adding the fundamentals of human rights to the core school curriculum."
The "Man. Society. Law" subject has been part of the school curriculum since 2013, starting from the 9th grade. However, the course content primarily delves into philosophical notions about human nature rather than diving deep into the nitty-gritty of rights and freedoms and ways to safeguard them.
Zhusip believes the proposed change should be more practical in nature, encompassing information about national and international mechanisms for protecting human rights. He recommends introducing this subject at an earlier grade level.
Zhusip highlights the accelerating number of crimes against children in the country. According to the General Prosecutor's Office, such crimes have surged by eight percent this year, partially attributed to the implementation of penalties for concealing facts of sexual violence against minors.
In a nutshell, a staggering 70% of crimes against children are committed by individuals from their immediate surroundings.
Kazakhstan is currently planning to strengthen human rights protection and enhance well-being across society, outlined in the Kazakhstan Cooperation Framework for 2026–2030. The framework underlines a commitment to ensuring all people enjoy human rights and equal access to age-appropriate services by 2030[1].
While the framework does not specify a new human rights subject in the primary school curriculum, it emphasizes broader educational objectives aimed at fostering critical thinking, inclusion, and respect for rights among prospective teachers and students[1][3]. Recent studies stress the importance of incorporating human rights values into educational practices and curricula, which could be fostered by new or revised subjects[3].
Implementing a human rights subject in primary schools is expected to generate several positive outcomes:
- Spreading Awareness: Educating children about their rights and duties equips them to identify and report signs of maltreatment.
- Promoting Respect and Fairness: Early learning on human rights reduces bullying and discrimination, fostering safe learning environments.
- Encouraging Open Discussion: Students and teachers become more likely to discuss and tackle issues related to abuse or neglect, leading to early interventions.
- Establishing a Vigilant Society: Over time, such curricula can help alter societal attitudes, creating communities more committed to safeguarding children's rights.
Although the new subject is yet to be formally introduced, the broader educational reforms and the results framework suggest Kazakhstan is dedicated to achieving these goals, which enable a reduction in crimes against children through education, empowerment, and systemic improvements[1][3].
- Given the increasing number of crimes against children and Kazakhstan's commitment to protect human rights, it might be strategic to incorporate politics, specifically international mechanisms for protecting human rights, into the education-and-self-development curriculum.
- With the emphasis on fostering critical thinking, inclusion, and respect for rights in the Kazakhstan Cooperation Framework for 2026–2030, it would be beneficial to expand the general-news coverage to include discussions on the potential positive outcomes of incorporating a human rights subject into the primary school curriculum, such as spreading awareness, promoting respect, and encouraging open discussion.
