In Kazakhstan, parents can enroll their child in first grade even if the child has not turned six by the start of the school year. The key condition is that the child must turn six by the end of the current calendar year. This was reported by infohub.kz, citing the Ministry of Education's response to an official inquiry from the publication "Kursiv".
The ministry explained that this opportunity is provided for by the Law "On Education". According to the document, children who have already turned six, as well as those who will turn six in the current calendar year, are admitted to first grade upon the application of their parents or other legal representatives. Thus, if a child turns six, for example, in October or December 2026, parents have the right to send them to school in the current academic year.
The ministry also noted that the level of preparation of a future first-grader does not affect their right to enroll in school. Schools are obliged to ensure the admission of all children living in the service area, regardless of whether they can read, write, or count. The response emphasizes: "Access is ensured for all children living in the service area of the educational organization, regardless of their level of preparation."
If a child experiences difficulties with the curriculum after the start of classes, the teacher must provide individual support. The ministry explained: if problems are identified, the teacher organizes corrective and additional work aimed at successful mastery of the educational program. For children with disabilities, learning conditions are determined taking into account special educational needs, which require an examination at a psychological, medical, and pedagogical consultation.
In the new academic year, Kazakhstan expects more than 380,000 first-graders. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Education, about 320,000 children have already been enrolled in schools — approximately 84% of the projected number. Nearly 4,000 of them are children with special educational needs. About 296,000 future first-graders are enrolled in public schools, and about 23,000 in private ones. In cities, about 191,000 children have been admitted to first grade, and in rural areas — about 128,000.
Application submission will continue until August 31. According to the ministry, about 84% of parents submitted documents electronically. Earlier, "Kursiv" calculated that preparing a first-grader for school could cost about 150,000 tenge.