Migration, Career and Educational Strategies of Students in Rural Kazakhstan

Abstract

Aygul Kurmangaliyeva, Ph.D. in Economics, Director of the Education Development Institute, International Business Academy, Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan. Email: aisha@iab.kz Address: 227 Rozybakiyeva St., Almaty, 050060, the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Galina Abdrakhmanova, Ph.D. in Economics, Professor at the Finance Chair of the International Business Academy, Almaty, the Republic of Kazakhstan. Email: galina.ab12@gmail.com Address: 227 Rozybakiyeva St., Almaty, 050060, the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The paper analyzes empirical data obtained in an international project on research of educational, migration and career strategies of rural high school students and expectations of their parents in Russia, China and Kazakhstan. A total questionnaire of graduate and pregraduate high school students and their parents in two rural regions of Kazakhstan was carried out in 2011 using the tools developed by the Education Development Institute of NRU HSE. The questionnaire revealed that most rural high school students had an intention to continue learning in universities and colleges of nearby cities.

The main factors of this choice include the strong belief that high quality education is only available in the city and the awareness of the difference between life and opportunities in the city and in the country. Most students look to receive government grants, as their families cannot afford paying for their studies and living expenses. Seeing the advantages of living in the country can hardly affect the teenagers’ choice. Neither are they afraid of the negative aspects of city life, such as high prices, risk of falling in with a bad crowd, or dislike towards rural people.

The prevalent strategy to continue learning in urban HE institutions has led to a persistent migration of youth from the country to the city, which might result in disappearance of many rural settlements in the medium term.