Kazakhs to learn English in 1^st grade

    Kazakhstani pupils will study English starting in the first grade in the coming school year, Novosti-Kazakhstan reported August 23, citing Kazakhstani Education and Science Minister Bakytzhan Zhumagulov.
    Zhumagulov made the announcement at an educators' conference. Previously, English-language instruction started in fifth grade.
    The reform corresponds with President Nursultan Nazarbayev's call for Kazakhstan to embrace competency in three languages (Kazakh, Russian and English), Zhumagulov said.
    The government intends to work closely with teachers and parents on monitoring the quality of English-language training, he said, Central Asia Online writes.