Famous Kazakhstani entrepreneur and founder of Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering، Aibek Barysov، has proposed switching all kindergartens in the country to the Kazakh language. In an interview with the editor-in-chief of Ulysmedia.kz، Samal Ibraeva، he explained why it is necessary to start with the youngest children... reports the website infohub.kz.
Aibek Barysov said that his youngest son knows Kazakh and English، but does not speak Russian. According to the entrepreneur، this was a conscious family decision. He himself grew up in a village in a family of teachers. Despite studying in Russian، the family always spoke only Kazakh at home.
“Until now، when we come to our father’s house، we cannot speak Russian there at all. The language a child begins to speak is the language he will think in for the rest of his life. So we made sure that our youngest son’s first language was Kazakh. He is now five years old. He also knows English fairly well، but does not speak Russian،” the entrepreneur shared.
The entrepreneur’s older children also speak Kazakh fluently. The main rule in the family is simple – they communicate in their native language at home.
At the same time، Aibek Barysov believes it is wrong to demand that Russian-speaking Kazakhstans immediately switch to Kazakh. He noted that Kazakh is a rich and complex language، so it is difficult for an adult to learn it. Children perceive language quite differently.
“A small child easily absorbs any knowledge. Therefore، if we change nothing else but simply switch all kindergartens to the Kazakh language، every child born and raised in this country will speak Kazakh،” the entrepreneur is confident.
He believes that along with the language، children are also passed down traditional values – respect for elders، care for the younger، and family rules. The entrepreneur admitted that even his family found it difficult to find a kindergarten where education is entirely conducted in the Kazakh language.
“When we were looking for a kindergarten، we got very tired. We found a kindergarten with great difficulty where education is one hundred percent conducted in the Kazakh language،” said Aibek Barysov.
The full version of the interview can be viewed on the Ulysmedia.kz YouTube channel.