No Textbooks, Not Enough Specialists: What Kazakhstan Promised Visually Impaired Children

Kazakhstan has allocated 879 million tenge in the republican budget for 2026–2028 for methodological support for children with visual impairments. This was stated in the prime minister’s response to a parliamentary inquiry, Orda.kz reports.

Earlier, deputies said visually impaired schoolchildren lack large-print textbooks, special notebooks, and adapted educational materials.

According to their data, 6,328 children with visual impairments live in Kazakhstan. Of these, 6,020 are partially sighted and 308 are blind. They study in special schools and kindergartens, individual classes and groups, as well as in regular educational institutions under inclusive education conditions.

To date, visually impaired children have no more than half of the necessary large-print textbooks. For example, there are none of the five required textbooks for the preparatory class. First grade lacks five out of 12 textbooks, second grade lacks eight out of 12, and third grade lacks nine out of 13. This situation continues through 11th grade,the deputies said in their request.

The inquiry separately mentioned School-Gymnasium No. 10 named after Zh. Tashenov in Astana, which has special classes for children with visual impairments. However, ophthalmological equipment purchased in previous years has not been updated. According to the deputies, the outdated equipment limits efforts to preserve and restore children’s eyesight.

What the government says

In response, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said 879 million tenge had been allocated in the republican budget for 2026–2028 for methodological support for children with visual impairments. There are now about 200 textbooks and educational-methodological complexes: 98 in Braille and 101 in large print.

To ensure conditions for inclusive education and strengthen the material and technical base, akimats allocated one billion tenge in 2025 for equipment upgrades. In 2026, 83 million tenge is provided to supply educational institutions with ophthalmological and typhlotechnical equipment,Bektenov’s response said.

The government also reported that the regions still need about 3,400 special education teachers. To reduce the shortage, the government increased the number of educational grants to 800 places. More than 11,000 such specialists now work in educational institutions, including 131 teachers for visually impaired children.

Original author: Saule Abdykamit

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