Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek addressed parents of applicants who failed to secure a state grant, urging them to support their children during this challenging time, reports infohub.kz.
"A state grant is undoubtedly a great opportunity, but it is far from the only path to higher education. Today, Kazakhstan has a whole system of additional support. This year, universities have provided over 2,000 rector's grants. Another 2,000 educational grants were allocated by local administrations. There are targeted employer programs, grants from private foundations, and large companies," he wrote.
The minister noted that there is another opportunity that not everyone knows about: after enrollment, some state grants become available each year. He also emphasized that students who start on a paid basis and show high academic results can later apply for vacant grants.
"So my advice to parents today is very simple. If your child received a grant, rejoice with them. Let them feel that their hard work is truly valued. If they didn't, they may need your support even more today. Don't compare them to others. Don't turn one competition into a verdict. Instead, together open the list of universities, call admissions offices, ask about rector's, regional, and corporate grants. Look for the next route," Nurbek addressed parents.
The minister also gave advice to applicants.
"And to the applicants, I want to say: there will be many more exams, competitions, victories, and situations in your life where something doesn't work out the first time. In a few years, what will matter more is not the result with which your student story began, but what kind of specialist and person you have become. Don't let one list determine the scale of your dream," the minister wrote.
He urged those who did not receive a grant not to stop and continue pursuing their dreams.
"I congratulate future students on the beginning of a new stage in life. And to those whose names did not appear among the state grant recipients today, I wish the most important thing: don't stop. Sometimes the path to a dream turns out to be a little longer than we planned. But that doesn't mean it leads nowhere," Nurbek wrote.
Recall that today the official list of educational grant recipients in Kazakhstan was published. You can view the list on official resources. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan also released a video with a selection of reactions from Kazakh applicants to winning the grant competition.