AUTHORITARIANIZATION OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN SCHOOLS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN.

ABSTRACT

The authoritarianization of educational process is a phenomenon that has been observed in recent years, particularly in the context of political and social changes happening around. This work examines the ways in which educational systems have become more or less centralized, bureaucratic, and top-down in their approach to teaching and learning. The work considers the implications of this trend for students, teachers, and society as a whole, highlighting the potential consequences for intellectual diversity, critical thinking, and civic engagement. Overall, the aim of this work is to stimulate discussion and debate around the issue of authoritarianization in education, and to encourage a renewed commitment to the principles of democratic education.

Keywords: authoritarianization, democratization, totalitarianism, education system.

Managing the class gives ability to rule the whole state. The science of management (in the present “direction”) of the educational process, as well as the selection of the right approaches to teaching, is one of the main factors that determine the competence of a teacher. The form of class governance has many associations with classical forms of state governance (democracy, authoritarianism, totalitarianism).

Let’s clarify some concepts: Democratization of education system is involving students in educational process, promoting school self-government, creating conditions for schoolchildren, where they feel like part of a society that has its own opinion and is aware of its rights.

Totalitarianism in education is a system (of a historically Soviet nature) in which the student is under the complete control of the administrations. All actions of schoolchildren are strictly controlled up to the form of clothing and everyday life at school. Individualism and alternatives to the accepted system are ignored.

The authoritarianism of the educational system is a formally democratic form in which all or most of the factors of democratization are only initiated and do not actually occur. Management remains entirely with the administration, and democratization exists only on paper.

Analyzing the education system in our country, there is a clear understanding that the democratization of the education system is carried out only on paper (excluding some elite schools). There are three main factors in the democratization of the education process: support for the individualism of schoolchildren, the organization of school self-government, the transformation of the student into a subject of the educational process on a par with the teacher.

With the democratization of the educational process, teachers of the Soviet period have difficulty accepting new norms, and in most cases, imitation is the easiest way to maintain the status quo. The process of authoritarianization is not only a way to maintain the status quo, but also a transitional period from totalitarianism to democratization. Thus, educational laws still regulate the appearance and dress code of schoolchildren. Similarly, state policy still maintains strict control over schoolchildren of a Soviet nature, using such clichés as “sit still”, “do nothing without the teacher's permission” and so on in official statements.

Students’ individualism is a big factor of democratization. Schools should not control students’ appearance (including their closes, hairstyle, color etc.) with the help of bans. Schools should give knowledge to the students and upbringing how it is possible. If to forbid everything in the childhood, when they become adult students, want to try everything what was banned earlier. The effective ways of communication and some upbringing works will have long-term effect than just bans. The second benefit of it is that student will feel himself or herself more comfortable, which leads to the active involving into discussion and their activeness. The style of sitting also shouldn’t be controlled. It is better just to give students example.

The ways of democratization is simple. Nevertheless, the way of authoritarianization is easier. Let us take simple Kazakh school. We will make analyzes of the system of education. Does student have choice to what to study? I am not saying about not to study literature or chemistry, but, students do not have any choice in the system of education, even the focus in education (humanitarian and technical) is chosen by the heads of school. As it is common for them, it is easier just give to the class “A” technical and to the class “B” humanitarian direction than to make survey and reorganize classes. This is the because of influence by the teacher’s hours. . For instance, in USA there is only one major subject (language) and other subjects may be chosen by student, if student do not want to study chemistry, he or she will not. Variable classes can be visited dependent on students’ interests, not forced as in Kazakhstan. Also in the simple Kazakh classes there is no students’ ranking (ranking teachers by students), students should have some influence to the teacher to have a chance to evaluate them. This part of democratization is not about giving students power under teacher, it is about making lessons more interesting, there are many examples when teachers do their all best when they have “open lessons” but their everyday lesson is very boring for students that is why they do not want to study. Even if the school has the system of evaluating of teachers, many of them are falsified.

The process of education, not teaching. Nowadays, following the trends of education, we should work with students individually and pay big attention to their self-education. The education process should be student centered. Totalitarian classes where teacher is giving information, student receiving is past century. Now, student should search and find information, when teacher should direct it. Teacher’s work is not only directing, it includes giving extra information, some advice etc. Students work in class should have more conversation than in present, discussions, round table where students take part without teachers’ order is the result of effective democratization of education process. Taking action is the one part of globally competent students, which is come with democratization of classes. However, what we see in our classes? Many schools of Kazakhstan still have soviet system of education de-facto, of course, in the period of examination by government, they try to imitate, but teachers even do not have such quality. The lesson is provided only for the best students and teacher do not want to use new method to involve all class. To tell the truth many students of villages, where I am from do not want to study at all and teachers do not do anything extraordinary to fix it. The democratization of education process is based on student-centered education.

How to deal with this problem? Nazarbaev once said, “How can I build democratic Kazakhstan without 18 million Americans?” The key to the democratization is the understanding of the process of democratization. In many cases parents of pupils are ones who stop or at least detain the reforms, believing to their own experience. Even now in the situations where we have conflict with teachers, some parents fully support teachers, ignoring who is right and who is wrong. Here the mentality of Kazakh people also plays big role. In these kind of situations, we need education of new trends for parents. It should be normal situation when parent requires something from school, not vice versa.

Increasing the ability of students for self-development… During lesson, starting from the first years, we need to understand that children have their own interests. For example, in the lesson of Kazakh literature teachers have their plan and they demand students to read exactly one poem of Abai. It will be better to give them opportunity to choose what to read from Abai, fortunately, he has written many works to read. Even better to give students the least of recommended literature, to choose or just give them opportunity to read what they want. Of course, in this scenario student may read popular manga or comics, but it is better to read something for children than to read nothing at all. To encourage the students who do SIW (student independent work) regularly and make researches is also great way for students self-development. I remember how I prepared interesting materials about dictatorship of Sulla and Marius, when teacher said that it is good, but useless because we do not have it in our schedule.

Giving students access to the self-governing and including to the system of education, for teachers of our country may seem very strange. Students have their own ideas, always had. To give them chance to reorganize something, to develop may be very interesting opportunity for our schools in the way of modernization. Younger generation wider than previous, collaborating with them and making our schools modern have good perspectives not only in the way of educational development, also in the way of development of our society.

Authoritarianism is the way from totalitarianism to democratization. Even the worse authoritarian system is better than totalitarian, for students, of course. While the government's top-down approach to education has led to a lack of transparency and accountability, limited academic freedom, and the manipulation of curricula to serve political agendas. It has resulted in a system that undermines critical thinking and creativity, perpetuates gender stereotypes, and marginalizes certain minorities. Addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts to promote diversity, reform outdated policies, and provide more autonomy to educators and students. By doing so, Kazakhstan can unlock its potential as a modern, innovative, and inclusive society.

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