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Official statements from Kazakhstan's Ministry of Education suggest a significant improvement in the working conditions and salaries of teachers, placing them among global leaders. According to the ministry, the percentage of teachers satisfied with their salaries has risen from 39% in 2018 to 71% in 2024. Furthermore, 95% of educators reportedly express high job satisfaction.

Discrepancy Between Official Data and Teacher Experience

However, these figures are met with skepticism by teachers themselves. Gulnar Esenjolkyzy, a "pedagogue-master" with 20 years of experience, shared that her salary increased from approximately 380,000 tenge (around $909) in 2021 to 520,000 tenge (around $1,100) currently, attributing this rise to her experience and qualifications. She noted that many of her colleagues earn less than $500 per month.

Expert Analysis on Real Income

Research by experts at "First Credit Bureau" indicates a decline in teachers' real salaries since 2023 due to inflation. While the average monthly salary for education sector employees in the past year slightly exceeded 322,000 tenge, a 12.3% inflation rate meant this increase did not keep pace with rising living costs.

International Salary Comparisons

Data from the Visasam portal reveals that when adjusted for the cost of living and taxes, Kazakhstan's teachers rank near the bottom among 52 countries. After accounting for all deductions and inflation, Kazakhstani teachers take home an average of approximately $486 per month. Only countries like Nicaragua, Algeria, and Kyrgyzstan rank lower.

In contrast, teachers in Switzerland earn $6,240 per month, Germany $4,390, Japan $4,000, and the United States averages $3,900.

Legislative Changes and Workload Impact

Member of Parliament Irina Smirnova pointed to several factors contributing to the perceived decrease in teacher income. A key change is the restriction on teachers taking on more than 1.5 teaching loads (stavka). Previously, teachers could take on up to 10-12 hours of additional classes to supplement their income. This limitation has resulted in some teachers losing up to 100,000 tenge per month.

Additionally, the complexity of the attestation process, which requires teachers to re-validate previously obtained qualifications, has also contributed to reduced earnings for some educators.