A scandal involving Nadeem Naqvi, an American professor who was accused of sexually assaulting a student in the U.S. and is currently working at KIMEP University in Almaty, has sparked debate on social media about the quality and professionalism of foreign teachers and professors in Kazakhstan.
According to Threads user Raimbek, university professors from Western countries with impeccable reputations and high levels of professionalism rarely move to Central Asia for work. He believes that many English-speaking teachers in Kazakhstan lack proper qualifications.
Exceptions, he said, may include academics whose research focuses on Kazakhstan and who prefer to work in the field.
«What happened at KIMEP is not an isolated incident but a harsh reality. A foreign passport is no longer a guarantee of quality,» he wrote.
Some users disagreed, citing low taxes and a lower cost of living, while noting that salaries for foreign teachers in Kazakhstan are comparable to those at Western universities. They argued that these factors make Kazakhstan an attractive destination for expatriate educators.
«I studied at KIMEP, attended a prestigious university in London and worked in education in the U.K. Teacher salaries around the world are generally comparable. Almaty and Astana can afford highly qualified educators. Taxes are low here, and the cost of living is lower, which is a major advantage. Many teachers spend two to four years working in different countries throughout their careers,» wrote user Yermek.
Furthermore, many commenters once again raised concerns about the salary gap between Kazakhstani and foreign professionals. In February, the Agency for Civil Service Affairs reported that the salary gap for scientists can be as high as 300-fold.
«In Astana, a man from Jamaica was teaching English at a local school. The school featured him prominently in its promotional materials, but when I asked to see his diploma, it turned out he was a plumber. He had only completed a three-day teacher-training course before being hired.»
«I’m an IELTS instructor with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and a master’s degree in education, but an American who was driving a tractor yesterday can charge three times as much per lesson as I can, and people will still line up to study with him. It drives me crazy,» another user said.
People also speculated that other foreign teachers accused of harassment in their home countries may be able to find work in private kindergartens and schools because their backgrounds and reputations are not always properly vetted during the hiring process.
