Ministry to Investigate Schools in Almaty Following Student Complaints
In a move to address concerns raised by students, the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan has launched an investigation into potential breaches of student rights and sanitary norms in school meals in the Almaty region. this piece. The investigation comes after reports of improper duty fulfillment by local executive bodies, as reported in Liter.kz.
Minister of Education and Science, Ganiy Beyisembayev, has personally taken the case and issued urgent instructions to form a working group. Comprising representatives of the Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights and the territorial department for ensuring the quality of education, this group will diligently check compliance with laws governing school meals and learning conditions.
On his Facebook page, Minister Beyisembayev stated, "[The complaint] concerns possible cases of violating students' rights and not meeting sanitary requirements in school meals, indicating insufficient fulfillment of direct duties by local executive bodies." He further emphasized the need for heightened child's rights protection as a strategic objective requiring a responsible approach.
In light of the case, regional education department leaders have been called upon to treat such complaints with utmost seriousness, with child rights and interests continuing to be a primary focus.
A Brief Look at School Meal Safety in Kazakhstan
Recent years have presented challenges for Kazakhstan regarding school meal safety, with reported incidents of mass food poisoning. The necessity for increased oversight of school meals has become all the more evident due to such incidents.
A significant case took place in the Mangystau region, resulting in mass food poisoning among students. This unfortunate event highlighted the requirement for improved regulatory mechanisms to ensure compliance with sanitary norms and epidemiological standards.
Progress
Following the Mangystau incident, the Ministry of Healthcare introduced new methods for state control over school meals, including granting special status to facilities with child occupancy and conducting unannounced inspections to maintain health standards.
An Interdepartmental Working Group, consisting of representatives from key agencies like the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Healthcare, and the General Prosecutor's Office, was also established to investigate poisoning cases and enhance school meal safety.
Future Measures
Future steps forward may include more frequent and thorough inspections of school food facilities, ensuring all educational institutions maintain strict health and safety standards. Additionally, legislative modifications might be considered to provide for more comprehensive state supervision of child-occupied facilities, as the current regulations are deemed insufficient.
Implementing educational programs for schools, focusing on food safety best practices, could also be an efficacious move to prevent future incidents.
While specific details about Almaty are currently limited, these broader national efforts are likely to impact any local investigations or school meal safety improvements in the region. As every child in Kazakhstan deserves care and quality education, all parties involved must remain committed to addressing these concerns for the wellbeing of future generations.
- In response to students' complaints, the Ministry of Education and Science in Kazakhstan, under Minister Ganiy Beyisembayev, has launched an investigation into potential breaches of student rights and sanitary norms in school meals in Almaty, especially due to reports of improper duty fulfillment by local executive bodies.
- The investigation into school meal violations in Almaty includes the formation of a working group, comprising representatives from the Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights and the territorial department for ensuring the quality of education, to check compliance with laws governing school meals and learning conditions.
- Although the recent investigation focuses on Almaty, it follows broader national efforts in Kazakhstan to improve school meal safety and prevent incidents like the Mangystau region's mass food poisoning.
- Future measures to enhance school meal safety in Kazakhstan may consist of more frequent and thorough inspections of school food facilities, implementing educational programs on food safety best practices, and considering legislative modifications to provide for more comprehensive state supervision of child-occupied facilities, as the current regulations are deemed insufficient.
