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A public school in Stepnogorsk is facing scrutiny after procurement records showed unusually large and costly purchases in 2024–2025 — including 32،000 Christmas ornaments، tens of thousands of sheets of specialty paper، server-grade processors، and more than 50 km of cable — raising questions about transparency and value for money. An internal review is scheduled to begin on January 5.

This was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.

How 32،000 ornaments were ordered

On December 8، 2025، K. Satpayev Secondary School No. 9 in Stepnogorsk placed an order via the Omarket e-shop with sole proprietor “Imran i ko” for 2،000 sets of Kaemingk KA140732 tree ornaments at a total cost of 8،000،000 tenge. Each set contains 16 balls — 32،000 items in all.

School director Anar Aitzhanova said the quantity was a mistake، claiming an extra zero was added to a request for 200 sets. Accountant Assemgul Kamarova cited a heavy workload. For comparison، the 25‑meter main New Year tree near Astana Arena used just over 3،000 ornaments in 2025 — roughly one-tenth of the school’s stock. Some boxes reportedly remain in storage؛ questions persist about whether the delivered items match the specified brand and quality.

Paper and printers: volumes and prices

On the same day، the school purchased 2،000 packs of ProMEGA Jet A4 80 gsm “intense green” glossy paper (50 sheets per pack) for 5،400،000 tenge — a total of 110،000 sheets. In November 2025، it spent another 4،800،000 tenge on 1،500 packs of photo paper. Administrators say white paper was also delivered، though the combined volumes appear several times higher than typical annual needs.

In December 2024، the school allocated 5،180،000 tenge for 20 printers. The contract specified KYOCERA ECOSYS P3150dn، yet HP printers were seen in classrooms. The per‑unit cost of 259،000 tenge exceeds common pricing for basic HP models and suggests a mismatch with the stated specifications.

Server-grade processors at a school

In 2025، the school acquired 10 AMD EPYC 7313 processors for 3،980،000 tenge (398،000 each). EPYC chips are designed for servers and data centers and typically require specialized infrastructure — an unusual fit for a standard school IT environment.

Construction materials and price gaps

Between 2024 and 2025، the school bought 5،000 m² of linoleum، spending a total of 24.9 million tenge. Some addenda increased the cost of 1،000 m² by another 900،000 tenge. The effective price per square meter ranged from 7،500 to 8،400 tenge، while comparable market prices were about 3،700–4،000 tenge.

Contracts also covered 86 interior doors (about 9.5 million tenge) and 40 plastic windows (about 10 million tenge). In September 2024، 110 window blocks were purchased at 128،000 tenge each؛ a subsequent deal priced a single window at 249،000 tenge. In October 2025، the school spent 5،900،000 tenge on 800 sheets of turquoise drywall (250×120 cm). Additional buys included 3،000 kg of primer (3 million tenge)، putty (4.1 million tenge)، and mounting foam (5.5 million tenge). The school also procured more than 50 kilometers of cable for nearly 10 million tenge، explaining it as needed for a video surveillance network — a scale that may exceed what a three‑story building typically requires.

Supplier and procurement route

Open data indicate that in 2025 the school’s goods procurement totaled roughly 130.5 million tenge، compared with 231.2 million in 2024. That 2025 figure is many times higher than nearby schools: No. 8 (29.7 million) and No. 7 (27.6 million). Most 2025 spending — 128.4 million tenge — passed through the Omarket e‑shop as direct purchases.

Public procurement specialist Samira Taitenova noted that items such as paper and office equipment are typically bought via competitive price requests، with single‑source purchases allowed only in exceptional cases. Heavy reliance on the e‑shop can، she said، increase the risk of bypassing competitive procedures.

New supplier landed eight contracts in days

The supplier “Imran i ko” was registered on November 13، 2025، and joined the public procurement portal on November 24. Between December 8 and 11، it signed eight Omarket contracts with the school totaling more than 41 million tenge. Some acceptance acts were issued on the same day as the contracts — even after business hours — suggesting the paperwork may have been handled formally rather than substantively.

What the school and authorities say

Director Aitzhanova said paper consumption is high and “each classroom has a teacher printer؛ we issue supplies on request،” while acknowledging that public procurement is her “weak spot” and that accounting errors occurred. Stepnogorsk city education department head Altyn Ospanova said disciplinary measures were taken against the director and the accountant، and that a service review will start on January 5 to verify quantities، quality، and legal compliance.

The core issue is ensuring that public funds are used openly and efficiently. Meaningful audits and civic oversight — backed by documents and verifiable data — are essential to address questionable practices and reinforce trust.