No plans for sex education in Kazakhstani schools, education minister says
Amid an incident involving accusations against a music teacher of an inappropriate relationship with a minor in the Almaty region, reporters raised the issue of the necessity of introducing sex education in Kazakhstan. During a government briefing, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Education Gani Beisembayev addressed the issue, stating that such education is a matter of parental responsibility rather than part of the school curriculum.
Commenting on the incident, the minister described it as blatant and unacceptable.
«Our response was immediate. As you know, we have an algorithm designed to protect children’s rights and provide for their safety. The Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights is working there. We have promptly taken all the necessary measures,» Beisembayev said.
He also clarified that the incident occurred in the Almaty region, not in the city of Almaty, as was previously reported. Additionally, he revealed that the suspect had never been employed at the school.
«However, this doesn’t reduce the liability. The incident must be thoroughly assessed. The investigation is underway, and legal measures will be taken,» the minister added.
One reporter asked whether it was high time to introduce sexual education lessons in schools, given that the topic remains taboo in many families. In response, the official said that parents bear primary responsibility for this aspect of upbringing. Notably, Beisembayev avoided using the phrase «sex education» altogether, never saying it out loud. Ultimately, he flatly stated that there were no plans to introduce such lessons — and that there couldn’t be.
«I believe it would be the right thing to strengthen parental responsibility throughout life. The best approach is when such matters are addressed within the family. For this purpose, we have established centers for psychological support for parents. I have instructed psychologists to educate parents on how to treat children and guide them,» the official said.
Beisembayev also noted that schools conduct educational events within the Birtutas Tarbie program, which focuses on education but does not have a direct emphasis on sex education.
