Officials Mislead Nation's Leadership About Aroujan Sain's Free Circles
The educational platform Artsport.edu.kz, launched earlier this year, aimed to provide free access to sports sections and creative clubs for children aged 4 to 18 across Kazakhstan. However, the program has encountered significant obstacles, primarily from regional authorities who are alleged to be misinforming the country's leadership and manipulating information.
The structure of the platform ensures fairness, as it prevents officials from influencing where parents take their children or which service providers come on board. This transparency extends to entrepreneurs participating in the project, as officials are unable to exert undue influence over them.
The initiative has been well-received, with thousands of jobs created across the country and over 600,000 vouchers activated through the platform. Clubs and sections in all regions of Kazakhstan opened their doors to children in June-July 2021. Parents, recognising the value of the program, have united in a Telegram chat, advocating for its continuation and inviting akimats, the Ministry of Culture and Sports, and the media to support the cause.
The intention is to integrate the Artsport.edu.kz system into the digital platform of additional education for schoolchildren, providing public control from parents. This integration would allow every child to see their training or club activity in addition to their school schedule. The goal is to integrate the system into the Kundelik.kz online diary.
Unfortunately, the program has faced resistance and been suspended in some regions, including Almaty and Zhambyl. Children have been kicked out of sections and clubs, and funding has been stopped. New enrollments in clubs or sections are currently not possible due to exhausted regional budgets, leaving more than 100,000 vouchers still waiting to be activated.
The main problem appears to be the allocation of funds by local executive authorities. This issue is compounded by the existence of too many completed criminal cases involving embezzlement in the fields of culture and sports.
The state is currently waiting to redistribute funds for the full resumption of the project. As parents and advocates continue to fight for its continuation, it remains to be seen whether the Artsport.edu.kz initiative will overcome these challenges and continue to provide valuable opportunities for Kazakhstan's youth.
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