Ahead of the new school year, information circulating in Kazakhstan may mislead parents about state support measures for schoolchildren. The Center for Countering Disinformation under the Central Communications Service has clarified that free meals and financial assistance are separate measures and are not provided to all students, reports infohub.kz.
In the Center's Telegram channel, it was noted that on the eve of the school year, information is spreading that creates a false impression that free school meals and financial aid for preparing children for school are the same measure of state support and are available to all students without exception.
"This claim does not correspond to current legislation. We are talking about two independent measures of state support with different goals, conditions, and recipients," the Center explained.
According to Article 6 of the Law "On Education," local executive bodies provide financial and material assistance to students and pupils. The procedure for providing such assistance is defined by a government resolution dated January 25, 2008.
"Assistance is provided, in particular, to children from families eligible for targeted social assistance, families with an average per capita income below the subsistence minimum, orphans and children left without parental care, as well as other categories provided for by law," the statement said.
It is noted that in state secondary education institutions, all students in grades 1-4 receive free hot meals regardless of social status, as well as students in grades 5-11 belonging to certain socially vulnerable categories.
"In turn, financial assistance for the purchase of clothing, shoes, and school supplies is targeted and is provided to those potentially in need, children and families with relevant grounds provided for by law," the Center added.
Thus, according to the Center, presenting targeted assistance to certain categories of students as a payment due to all schoolchildren creates unreasonable expectations among parents and distorts the content of state social policy.