A representative of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District took part in a meeting of the Human Rights Commission under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

June 7, 2024. Astana. A meeting of the Human Rights Commission under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held.

The main topics of the meeting, chaired by Igor Ivanovich Rogov, were the rights of citizens to receive higher education, ensuring its quality and protecting consumer rights.

The Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan at the event with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan was represented by the keymaster of the Assumption Cathedral of the capital, Archpriest Dimitry Baidek.

The Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek addressed the participants. The head of the ministry said that there are 120 universities in Kazakhstan, where more than 642 thousand students study. The employment rate of graduates during the year is 78.3%. In terms of modernizing the content of higher education, academic freedom has been expanded, online learning has been introduced, and 73% of educational programs have been updated. Applied bachelor's degree and integral GPA projects have been launched in pilot mode in a number of universities.

Chairman of the commission I.I. Rogov noted that it is important to increase the level of legal culture and legal awareness of students. He recommended that the Ministry of Science and Higher Education consider introducing the subject “Fundamentals of Human Rights” into the educational programs of universities.

Representatives of universities voiced important problems: the impact of the low level of training of school graduates on the quality of higher education and the shortage of qualified teachers in the regions.

Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliev spoke about mechanisms for protecting consumer rights. According to him, over the past three years there has been an almost double increase in citizen complaints about violations of consumer rights.

The minister noted that for the effective protection of consumer rights, the ministry has developed a corresponding bill. It is aimed at comprehensive protection of consumer rights in all spheres of human life. Thus, the consumer can choose how to protect their rights. For example, directly file a lawsuit or contact a mediator or government agency to bring the violator to administrative responsibility. The bill also increases the role of public institutions for the protection of consumer rights, including by introducing the institution of an ombudsman in this area.