The provision of social assistance to children from low-income families studying in private schools will begin this year. On December 30, the president signed the law on education and protection of children's rights.
One of the main innovations is free hot meals for students of grades 1-4 of private schools. The new initiative covers more than 25 thousand children. More than 12 billion tenge was allocated from the local budget for its implementation.
The law also provides for the expansion of social support measures for students studying under the state educational order. Previously, assistance in the purchase of school supplies and stationery from the Universal Education Fund was provided only to public school students. Now it will also apply to students of private schools.
"Under the new law, local executive bodies will be empowered to provide social assistance to all children from socially vulnerable families, regardless of the form of ownership. This is an important step towards ensuring equal opportunities for all children," Minister of Education and science of the Republic of Kazakhstan Gani Beisembayev said.
Recall that on behalf of the head of state, since September 2023, free hot meals have been organized in public schools for Primary School students and students of grades 5-11 of the social category. This academic year, more than 1.7 million children studying in public schools were provided with free meals. Within the framework of the" Universal Education " Fund, an additional 22.5 billion tenge was allocated to provide equipment for 510 thousand students.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/edu/press/news/details/924592