Free education may be expanded through development of public-private partnership – Education Minister

"We need some optimal volume of state involvement in the payment of higher education services. I think a more pressing issue is the development of public-private partnership, attraction of private investment, when we talk about capital costs, ie, the construction of buildings, laboratories and infrastructure," he said.

However, he noted that about 25% of Kazakh students are educated at the expense of budget funds.

"There is the experience of Ireland, where everyone learns for free, but we know that after the financial crisis it is very harmful for the system. In the United State there is less state involvement, but it affects the access to higher education. Here we need some optimal volume of state involvement in the payment of higher education," the minister stressed.

In addition, he noted that a mechanism of patronage could be developed in the Kazakh system of higher education.