STEAM Education Reform: The Case of Kazakhstan

STEAM education (or simply referred to below as “STEAM”) has already garnered the attention of scholars and policymakers worldwide. Several governments around the world have started integrating STEAM into their educational systems. The primary aim of this study is to examine the teaching practices in the implementation of STEAM education within the educational context of Kazakhstan. This research utilizes qualitative research methods, mainly interviews and observations. The research findings discovered several advantages and disadvantages. The advantages included the development of competencies such as creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and collaborative teamwork. Meanwhile, the disadvantages included a shortage of proficient STEAM instructors, insufficient time and resources, limited collaborative opportunities, and the absence of a formal STEAM curriculum. This research contributes to the global academic discourse by proposing the integration of STEAM education elements into the established state curriculum, by leveraging STEAM as elective subjects or supplementary extracurricular activities.