Starting in 2026, Kazakhstani schools will see a new approach to assessing student knowledge. The Ministry of Education has developed a draft order that proposes abandoning the traditional summative assessments (SOR and SOCh) in primary grades. The document has been published on the 'Open NPA' portal for public discussion, reports infohub.kz.
According to the draft, for students in grades 2-4, instead of summative assessment for sections and quarters, formative assessment and thematic and final tests will be introduced. This will allow for more flexible assessment of student progress and reduce stress.
For students in grades 5-11 (12), the familiar system remains: knowledge will be checked through daily classwork and summative assessments (SOR and SOCh). The document emphasizes that quarter grades will be based on assessment results, ensuring objectivity in evaluating academic achievements.
The Ministry of Education expects the new rules to make the assessment system more transparent and objective. The draft order will be open for discussion until August 21, 2026.
Earlier, the head of the ministry, Zhuldyz Suleimenova, acknowledged the shortcomings of existing methods and announced the introduction of more traditional tests. It was also reported that deputies called for accountability for those who introduced SOR and SOCh in schools.