History and General Information

History of the Department of “Preschool and Primary Education”

With the direct support of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, N. Nazarbayev, the university was established by the decree on the opening of HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PRESCHOOL AND PRIMARY EDUCATION

The history of the establishment of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University dates back to June 6, 1991, when President of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic N. A. Nazarbayev issued Decree No. 329, “On the Establishment of Akhmet Yassawi Turkestan State University.” Pursuant to this decree, a higher education institution was established in the city of Turkestan, creating opportunities for the development of the regional higher education system and the training of qualified specialists. The establishment of the university also laid the foundation for the development of teacher education.

The formation of the Department of Preschool and Primary Education is closely associated with the introduction of teacher education programmes at the university and their subsequent structural development.

In the 1999–2000 academic year, the programme 5В010200 – “Pedagogy and Methods of Primary Education” was introduced on the basis of the Department of History of Philosophy, Pedagogy and Psychology, and the first cohort of students was admitted. During this period, the department was headed by A. Abuov, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor. This marked the initial stage in the training of highly qualified teaching professionals in the field of primary education.

In the 2002–2003 academic year, following structural changes at the university, an independent Department of Pedagogy was established as a separate unit from the Department of History of Philosophy, Pedagogy and Psychology to serve teacher education programmes. The programme 5В010200 – “Pedagogy and Methods of Primary Education” became part of this department. K. Ybraimzhanov, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Senior Lecturer, was appointed Head of the Department.

In 2003, the Faculty of Pedagogy was established at the university, with K. Ybraimzhanov, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Senior Lecturer, appointed as its Dean. The faculty comprised three departments: Primary Education Pedagogy, Methods of Primary Education, and General Pedagogy and Psychology. These departments were headed, respectively, by B. Kulakhmet, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor; E. Omar, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences and Professor; and Zh. Beisenbekov, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Senior Lecturer.

On October 28, 2004, by the decision of Meeting No. 1 of the Senate of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, the Department of General Pedagogy and Psychology was divided into two independent structural units: the Department of General Psychology and the Department of General Pedagogy and Ethnopedagogy. B. Ortaev, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor, was appointed Head of the Department of General Pedagogy and Ethnopedagogy, while E. Omar, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences and Professor, was appointed Head of the Department of Pedagogy and Methods of Primary Education.

Between 2003 and 2014, the departments responsible for training teaching professionals in preschool and primary education were headed by a number of distinguished scholars in pedagogy. In particular, the Department of Pedagogy and Methods of Primary Education was headed by E. Omar, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences and Professor, from 2003 to 2007; S. Kozhageldiyeva, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor, from 2007 to 2010; B. Ortaev, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor, from 2010 to 2012; and G. Tokkulova, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Acting Associate Professor, from 2012 to 2014.

From the 2006–2007 academic year until 2009, the Department of General Pedagogy and Ethnopedagogy was headed by L. K. Kerimov, a distinguished national scholar in pedagogy, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences and Professor. During the 2009–2010 academic year, G. Kaibuldaeva, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Acting Associate Professor, was appointed Head of the Department. In the 2011–2012 academic year, A. Rysbekova, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Acting Associate Professor, was appointed to this position.

During Professor L. K. Kerimov’s leadership, the programme 5В010100 – “Preschool Education and Upbringing” was introduced on the basis of the Department of General Pedagogy and Ethnopedagogy, and the first cohort of students was admitted. This laid the foundation for the development of teacher training in preschool education at the university alongside primary education.

REORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND INTEGRATION OF EDUCATIONAL AREAS

In the 2014–2015 academic year, following changes to the university’s organizational structure, the Faculty of History and Pedagogy was reorganized into the Faculty of Humanities. During this period, the preschool and primary education areas were integrated into a single structural unit, and the Department of Educational Technologies was established within the Faculty of Humanities.

This reorganization aimed to streamline the training of specialists in preschool and primary education, coordinate academic and methodological activities, and ensure continuity in teacher education.

In subsequent years, the department implemented the following educational programmes: 6В01202 – “Preschool Education and Upbringing”, 7М01202 – “Pedagogy of Preschool Education and Training”, 6В01303 – “Pedagogy and Methods of Primary Education”, and 7М01303 – “Pedagogy and Methods of Primary Education”.

Between 2014 and 2023, the position of Head of the Department of Educational Technologies was held, at different times, by B. Ortaev, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences and Professor; A. A. Kuralbaeva, PhD and Associate Professor; A. Rysbekova, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Acting Associate Professor; B. Auezov, PhD and Acting Associate Professor; and A. A. Zhumadullaeva, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor.

During the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 academic years, A. Rysbekova, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Acting Associate Professor, served as Head of the Department.

Throughout these periods, research and academic-methodological activities were carried out in the fields of preschool and primary education, with particular emphasis on improving educational programmes and developing the professional training of teachers.

THE CURRENT STAGE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S DEVELOPMENT

As part of the university’s structural modernization, the department continued its activities under the name Department of Preschool and Primary Education. Currently, the department operates within the Faculty of Education and Humanities of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University.

The department’s primary mission is to train highly qualified and professionally competent teachers for the fields of preschool and primary education, improve educational programmes, and conduct research in pedagogy.

The department places particular emphasis on combining students’ theoretical knowledge with practical experience. To this end, partnerships have been established with educational institutions, and agreements have been concluded for the organization of teaching practice and dual education.

In particular, within the educational programme 6В01202 – “Preschool Education and Upbringing”, cooperation has been established with the “Aliya” and “Baldyrgan” nursery schools and kindergartens. Under the educational programme 6В01303 – “Pedagogy and Methods of Primary Education”, a dual education system is implemented in cooperation with IT Lyceum No. 23 and M. Abenova General Secondary School. These partnerships enable students to gain professional experience, develop practical teaching skills, and adapt to their future careers.

Starting from the 2024–2025 academic year, student admission commenced under the educational programmes 6В01222 – “Preschool Education (IP)” and 6В01323 – “Primary Education (IP)” as part of the project “Strengthening the Potential of Teacher Education”.

These educational programmes are aimed at modernizing the professional training of future teachers, enabling them to master contemporary pedagogical approaches, and developing their ability to effectively apply innovative technologies in teaching and educational processes.

The department’s research activities are conducted in accordance with approved research areas and topics. The academic staff investigate current issues in preschool and primary education, develop academic and methodological materials, and contribute to the improvement of educational content.

In the 2025–2026 academic year, staffing arrangements for the educational process were organized in accordance with the curricula of the educational programmes, and relevant employment contracts were concluded for the delivery of individual courses. According to the data for this period, the department employed four Candidates of Sciences, five PhD holders, and experienced academic staff.

Starting from the 2026–2027 academic year, Sultanbek Malik Zhupanbekuly, PhD, Senior Lecturer, was appointed Head of the Department of Preschool and Primary Education.

Today, while preserving its longstanding academic and pedagogical experience and established academic traditions, the department continues to focus on improving the quality of education, modernizing teacher training programmes, advancing research activities, and strengthening professional cooperation with educational institutions.

Since its establishment, the Department of Preschool and Primary Education has continuously developed its accumulated experience in training specialists for preschool education and primary education. One of its key priorities is to prepare professionally competent, creative, and responsible teachers who meet the requirements of the modern teacher education system.