EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM REFORMS IN KAZAKHSTAN IN THE 1940–1960: A HISTORICAL AND PEDAGOGICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The study provides a historical and pedagogical analysis of educational reforms in Kazakhstan from the 1940s to the 1960s, identifying their content, causes, and consequences. Its main goal is to show the close connection between educational changes and the socio-political development of the country. The research examines the historical background of the reforms, structural changes in the teaching system, and their pedagogical outcomes.

The methodological basis includes historical and pedagogical analysis, archival research, and the comparative historical method, revealing similarities and differences between periods. The study also uses substantive and structural approaches to analyze pedagogical literature and archival materials.

During the 1940s–1960s, several major reforms were implemented: the introduction of compulsory seven-year, and later ten-year education; post-war restoration of the school system; and a gradual modernization of curricula and teaching methods. Despite ideological pressure and teacher shortages, the reforms played a significant role in shaping Kazakhstan’s education system within the Soviet framework.   

The research highlights both the disruptions and achievements of this period, emphasizing the influence of political, social, and cultural factors on education. It contributes to understanding the historical continuity of educational policy and helps evaluate modern reforms through the lens of past experience.

The article also notes that after the war, Kazakhstan began systematic work on creating original textbooks, and the first pedagogical publications in the Kazakh language appeared. However, the totalitarian system led to a decline in the number of Kazakh-language schools.

The study is based on archival materials from the Central State Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan and introduces new sources into scientific circulation. The results have scientific and practical significance, expanding knowledge of Kazakhstan’s educational history and assisting in the development of modern educational strategies.