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An active educator has directly addressed Kazakhstan's Minister of Education, Zhyldyz Suleimenova, with a passionate appeal regarding the newly proposed regulations for teacher certification. The educator, Aiman Sagidulla, voiced strong criticism of the changes, arguing they overlook the practical realities faced by teachers and negatively affect student learning.

Criticism of the New Certification Process

Sagidulla expressed her frustration on social media, accusing the ministry of making decisions without genuine collaboration with educators. She questioned the purpose of involving teachers in working groups for four months if their input was ultimately disregarded in favor of predetermined outcomes.

"Ms. Zhyldyz Dosbergenkyzy Suleimenova! If you were going to decide everything yourselves, why did you keep us in the working group for 4 months for no reason? You even removed the test. You truly played a game with active teachers. Why don't we know about these changes, even while sitting in the working group?" the educator wrote.

Concerns Over "Show Lessons" and Student Time

A significant point of contention for Sagidulla is the requirement for teachers to conduct 14-15 open lessons as part of the certification process. She argues that this places an undue burden on teachers and detracts from valuable instructional time for students.

"We can certainly deliver excellent open lessons. But while we are conducting 14-15 open lessons and singing 'lalala,' what will our children be studying? Do you realize that while we are showcasing 'show lessons' to gain prestige and pass certification, all of our children's time will be spent on us?" she exclaimed.

Call for Truth and Alternative Solutions

Sagidulla labeled the ministry's approach as dishonest and urged for transparency. She expressed relief at having left the working group, fearing she would have been complicit in actions that could lead to students' distress.

"We can't escape one lie before encountering another. It's good that I left the working group. Otherwise, I would have been responsible for the students' tears. There was a story by Ayatzhan Akhmetzhanuly: 'An open lesson is a theatrical performance.' The BJB and TJB are also lies. The quality of education is also a lie. Open lessons are also a lie," Sagidulla stated.

Proposal to Reinstate Testing

Instead of portfolios and elaborate demonstration lessons, Sagidulla proposed reinstating a testing system. She believes that teachers with a solid understanding of the school curriculum can successfully pass a well-designed test.

"The portfolio should have been removed, and the test should have been kept. Any teacher with knowledge can pass a test based on the school curriculum. It is shameful to assign a teacher who avoids 50 questions the task of preparing a student who can answer 140 questions. Ms. Zhyldyz! Think again. Keep the test for certification and remove all other documents. Neither a portfolio nor a show lesson is necessary. All university grants are distributed through tests. And we are the teachers who prepare students for those tests," she wrote.