Arailym Toleubekova Appointed Head of Almaty Region Education Department

Arailym Toleubekova officially took office on August 21, Orda.kz reports.

The appointment order was signed by Almaty Region Akim Marat Sultangaziyev. Born in 1977, Toleubekova graduated from Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University with a degree in “Kazakh Language and Literature in Non-Kazakh Schools.”

She later received a law degree in 2015 from Almaty University, studied Russian language and literature in 2020 at the Regional Social-Innovation University, and earned a master’s degree in law there in 2017.

Toleubekova began her career in 2001 as a Kazakh language and literature teacher at Secondary School No. 20 in the village of Rakhat, Ili District. She went on to serve as deputy director for academic affairs, operator at military unit No. 97617, leading specialist at the Ili District Department of Education and Sports, leading specialist in the Energetich Rural District Akimat, and as a nursery methodologist. 

Before her new post, she headed the education departments of Qonayev and Yenbekshikazakh District.

Her appointment follows a series of dismissals in the regional administration. On August 12, Deputy Akim of Almaty Region, Bolat Kurenbekov, lost his post, shortly after the removal of Education Department head Saltanat Bespaeva and Internal Policy Department head Yerik Abitov.

The reshuffle was triggered by a scandal over the relocation of children from a Baganashyl Orphanage

Authorities attempted to move the children from the city to the region. Teachers and children resisted the transfer to Qonayev. Tensions escalated when officials arrived at the orphanage with police.

President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev intervened, halting the relocation and ordering an investigation. 

Following the incident, the region’s first deputy akim received a stern reprimand — his second in recent years — while his colleagues were dismissed.

Original Author: Alexandra Mokhireva