In Aktobe, parents of students at the D. Kunayev school-gymnasium in the Nur City microdistrict have appealed to the Minister of Education and state bodies to intervene in the situation with three-shift schooling. According to them, children have been studying under a six-day school week for ten years, and the construction of an extension to the school has been delayed for four years, reports the website infohub.kz.
The appeal was published on Threads by a mother of one of the students. The author of the statement claims that due to a shortage of student places, schoolchildren are forced to study in three shifts, with the third shift ending around 8:30 PM.
According to the parents, such a schedule negatively affects children's health and deprives them of the opportunity to rest fully and attend extracurricular activities.
"For 10 years, our children have been forced to study under a grueling three-shift and six-day regime. Because of the six-day school week, children have only one day off — Sunday. This time is physically insufficient to recover after a heavy school week and three shifts," the appeal reads.
The parents also demand the completion of the extension, bringing to account those responsible for the delays, and switching the school to a five-day school week.
The Education Department of Aktobe Region said that to address the problem of three-shift schooling, construction of a three-story extension with 600 student places is ongoing.
"To date, the construction readiness of the facility is 80%. Work has resumed and is proceeding on schedule. Major construction and engineering works have been completed, interior finishing is 95% complete, and utility networks are 90% complete. The facility is planned to be commissioned by the end of this year," the education department commented.
According to the department, finishing works, installation of stained-glass structures for the gym hall, landscaping, outdoor lighting, internal sewerage networks, and installation of technological equipment are currently underway at the site.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that in the 2026–2027 academic year, classes in Kazakhstani schools will start on September 1 and end on May 25. Autumn holidays will last from October 26 to November 1, winter holidays from December 28 to January 10, and spring holidays from March 22 to 28. First-graders will have additional holidays from February 8 to 14. Final certification for ninth-graders will take place from May 31 to June 11, and graduation exams for 11th-graders from June 1 to 17, 2027.