According to the Standard rules of admission to educational organizations implementing educational curricula of primary, basic secondary, general secondary education, applications from parents or legal representatives of children entering the first year are accepted from April 1 to August 1 of a current year.

Also, pursuant to the Standard Rules, formation of classes according to the level of training and degree of development of students is not allowed, and the maximum number of students in one class should be no more than 25 students. 

Parents or other legal representatives of a child have the right to choose any educational organization for training (subject to availability of vacant spots).

The school provides children with basic education, develops social skills and becomes a second home for many years.

Parents should get all the paperwork done to ensure seamless enrollment of a child to school.

In the material we will describe how to do this.

1. What is the best age to send a child to first grade?

In 2019, amendments to the Law “On Education in RK” were introduced according to which children reaching 6 years old within a current year should go to school. 

Comprehensive schools can also enroll 5-year-old children, if by the end of December of a current year they turn 6 years old. 

Note that pre-school preparation is provided at pre-school organizations beginning from five years old within one academic year as well as at pre-school classes and family.

2. What skills are expected from a child going to a first grade?

Mind that a child should:

- know his/her surname, name, age, parents` names, places of their work and residence address;

- articulate all the sounds, answer the questions using complete sentences, make up stories consisting of 3-4 sentences;

- be able to retell the content of a story, fairy tale and other pieces;

- be able to count from 1 to 20;

- be able to name geometrical figures;

- be able to orientate in directions (right, left, up-down, etc.);

- be able to distinguish colours, colour a colouring book using pencils or paints and remain within outlines, etc.

Availability of the skills ensures that a child is ready for school. If you believe that a child does not have the above knowledge and skills, do not worry.

Teachers will help children to adapt to a school life.

3. Enrollment to a general education institution.

Acceptance of applications from parents or other legal representatives (guardian, foster parent) of children entering the first year is carried out from April 1 to August 1 of a current year.

Application to an education institution can be submitted via e-Gov Portal. In case if parents submit incomplete document packages, expired documents or unreliable documents or if grades are overloaded, an education organization refuses to accept applications.

There are no exams or tests for children enrolling to a first grade of a comprehensive school, while enrollment to gymnasiums and lyceums is performed on a competitive basis.

4. The list of documents required for enrollment to a comprehensive school.

For Kazakhstani citizens:

• Application submitted by a parent or another legal representative.
• Birth certificate (copy).
• Health certificate – health passport (f-026/u-3), vaccination certificate (f-065/u).
• 2 photos (3х4 cm).

Gymnasiums and lyceums enroll children on a competitive basis. Within such a selection type, a child is interviewed to establish his/her level of training. The board of interviewees includes elementary grades teachers, a medical worker (psychologist), social teacher.

For foreigners.

Conditions applied to citizens of RK are also valid for the foreigners. Parents and other legal representatives should reside in the country on a temporary or permanent basis. 

Foreigners should submit a document giving the right of permanent residence in the Republic of Kazakhstan with a mark of registration as a place of residence:

• foreigner – foreigner residence permit in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• stateless individual – stateless person certificate;
• refugee – refugee certificate;
• asylum-seeker – asylum-seeker certificate;
• oralman – oralman certificate or statement issued by migration authorities.

The requirement is not applied to the employees of embassies and consulates pursuant to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Individuals temporary residing in RK should submit a copy of passport and a copy of migration card. The headmaster enrolls their children to a relevant grade based on an educational level obtained in a foreign country in accordance with educational documents. If there are no such documents than an education organization establishes a commission, which determines an applicant`s educational level.

The list of documents required from foreigners:

• Application in no particular format from a child parents or guardians;
• Copy of birth certificate;
• Health certificate;
• 2 photos (3х4 cm).
• Residence permit and migration card;
• ID document. 

5. Do schools enroll children wearing religious clothing?

Pursuant to the "Requirements for compulsory school uniforms", inclusion of elements of clothing belonging to religious denominations in school uniforms is not allowed. Moreover, Article 47 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Education" states that students "should comply with the requirements for compulsory school uniforms established by an authorized body in the field of education".