Based on an in-depth, ten-year study, this novel book examines the reform of Kazakhstan's education system, from the initial plans and models of change, through to the implementation at all stages and places in the education system. Through an exploration of a wide range of data, it maps the problems, models, challenges, interventions, and successes of educational change. It covers the viewpoints of all stakeholders involved – policy makers, teachers, regional officials, head teachers, parents, and pupils – to provide a comprehensive assessment of the perspectives of people at all levels. It will be invaluable to those interested in the implementation of radical development and change, and it is essential reading for researchers and students in education reform and education policy, as well as teachers and educational professionals. This title is part of the Flip it Open Programme and may also be available Open Access. Check our website Cambridge Core for details.

‘Rarely do scholars look back to assess the impact of a reform ten or twenty years later. This book fills this gap: the distinguished authors examine how the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools evolved over time and which of their key features were actually scaled up and adopted by regular public schools. Moving beyond mere description, this book is a very important contribution to comparative policy studies as it captures the fascinating new trend towards internationalization, typically first piloted in a few experimental schools of the country with the promise of infusing later on the innovations into the remaining public schools.’

Gita Steiner-Khamsi - Professor and UNESCO Chair in Comparative Education PolicyTeachers College, Columbia University, New York