The first normative legal act in the field of youth policy was the Law «On State youth policy in the Kazakh SSR» of June 28, 1991. According to experts, it was an up-to-date and timely document that reflects the transition from one type of economy to another, demonstrates the principles of democracy, transparency and, of course, identifies important areas for youth development.

Another important conceptual document that determined the further development of the country was the Development Strategy of Kazakhstan until 2030. It contains priority goals, including a recommendation in the age policy to focus on young people and the younger generation, as well as on young families.

The concept of youth policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, approved on August 28, 1999, focuses on such aspects as the formation of patriotism among young people, their moral and spiritual development; ensuring rights in the field of labor, education and health protection; creating conditions for the implementation of socio-economic needs, intellectual and physical development; supporting and stimulating public initiative; involvement in international cultural, economic, scientific and educational processes.

In order to implement the main directions of the Concept, the Program «Youth of Kazakhstan» for 2003–2004 was adopted in-2001. The action plan for its implementation, in particular, includes such new formats of work as holding job fairs, creating a business incubator and a special Internet site, publishing a state report on the state of youth affairs, and much more.

On July 7, 2004, a new Law «On State Youth Policy in the Republic of Kazakhstan» was adopted, which gave a new impetus to the development of the sphere, stimulating new initiatives and the growth of the youth movement. This law also made it possible to separate young people into a separate socio-demographic group, to give them certain social rights and social guarantees. Its age limits were defined in the range from 14 to 29 years.

On September 9, 2005, the Youth Policy Program for 2005–2007 was approved. Its goals included: conducting socially oriented youth events; creating conditions for the spiritual, cultural, educational, professional development and physical development of young people; revealing their creative potential; creating the necessary conditions for socialization and functioning of youth organizations.

Among the normative legal acts aimed at the implementation of youth policy, one can also refer to the State programs of patriotic education of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2006-2008. It presupposed the upbringing of a citizen with a positive, creative worldview, which is expressed in a sense of responsibility, the ability to make informed choices and make independent decisions for the benefit of the motherland, society, his family, and himself. In addition, efforts were directed to the formation of a systematically improving personality with a strong moral core, flexible, easily adaptable to changing conditions and open to new ideas.

On February 27, 2013, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan approved the Concept of the State Youth Policy until 2020 «Kazakhstan-2020: the way to the future». The document identified priority tasks, such as creating conditions for the realization of the right of Kazakhstanis, and especially the younger generation, to free social development, creative initiative in accordance with their own interests and taking into account the interests of society.

In 2015, the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On State Youth Policy» was adopted with amendments and additions. As part of its implementation, a number of regulatory legal documents regulating the activities of youth resource centers, holding national and regional youth forums were approved.

Kazakhstan pays special attention to young people. Comprehensive measures for the development of Kazakhstan's youth are always included in the annual messages of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 2019-2020 was declared the Year of Youth, and support for youth and the family institute is a priority of state policy.

In the Address of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan K. K. Tokayev, dated September 2, 2019, initiatives were announced to improve the life of the younger generation in the field of improving the quality of education, supporting the institute of family and childhood, creating an inclusive society within the new stage of modernization of Kazakhstan. These steps, as well as measures to conduct career guidance work with students, expand the scope and improve the implementation of the program «With a diploma in the village», the development of mass sports and a number of others, should contribute to the successful socialization of Kazakhstan's youth, its becoming a highly effective human capital, corresponding to the tasks of entering our country into the top thirty competitive countries in the world.

2020 was declared the «Year of the Volunteer». This year's Address aims to expand the participation of citizens, especially young people, students and students in volunteering, and to instill in them the skills of an active life position. These measures are aimed at strengthening civil society. A major role in the implementation of these initiatives is assigned to young people as the most active and mobile social group in society.

From the point of view of social education and state youth policy at the present stage of Kazakhstan's society, the following topical areas of youth work can be distinguished:

- strengthening the educative nature of training and the image-forming effect of education;

- creation of effective humanistic educational systems in educational institutions of all types and types;

- orientation of the younger generation to eternal values – human, family, motherland, labor, knowledge, culture, peace, nature;

- harmonization of the social field of a young person;

- development of club, leisure and amateur activities, support of existing and promotion of new children's and youth public associations, development and promotion of democratic principles in the management of an educational institution, including student self-government;

- introduction of additional educational programs within the framework of social education aimed at early professional and life self-determination of young people in order to increase their competitiveness in the labor market;

- strengthening the social protection function of the educational institution, increasing the effectiveness of measures to protect the life, physical, mental and mental health of young people by means of education and in the process of educational work;

- maintaining, strengthening the resource base and developing a network of institutions of additional education, as well as health, social protection, sports, and youth affairs committees that fulfill social orders for the implementation of additional educational programs of various levels intended for various categories and groups of young people who have the ability to accurately and flexibly respond to the needs of young people and a specific society^[126].

In 20202020, the Concept of the State Youth Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2020 «Kazakhstan 2020: the way to the future» was officially completed. The purpose of this document was to form an effective model of state youth policy aimed at successful socialization of young people, directing their potential for further development of the country. For this purpose, it was proposed to adopt a set of measures in the framework of ten key areas:

- providing affordable and high-quality education;

- formation of a healthy lifestyle;

- improving the legal culture and developing young people's respect for the fundamental values of statehood;

- creating conditions for youth employment;

- development of affordable housing for young people;

- introducing young people to cultural values;

- promotion of civic and patriotic self-realization of young people;

- ensuring the continuity of moral guidelines in the youth environment;

- scientific and research support and improvement of the regulatory framework of the state youth policy;

- Involvement of young people in the implementation of the «Strategy Kazakhstan-2050»^[127].

Summing up this program, we can distinguish the positive and negative aspects of youth policy in Kazakhstan.

The positive aspects include:

- the implementation of the law «On State Youth Policy» of February 9, 2015, which defines the main directions and mechanisms for implementing youth policy;

- there is no serious institutional framework in the form of:

- central and local executive bodies responsible for various areas of youth policy. The key and coordinating role among them is played by the Committee on Youth and Family Affairs of the Ministry of Information and Public Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which has been operating since 2018;

- consultative and advisory bodies at the central (Youth Policy Council under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan) and local (Youth Affairs Councils) levels;

- youth resource centers that provide specific advice to young people.

- implementation by certain state bodies of programs and projects aimed at solving housing, social, educational and other issues of young people («Serpin», «With a diploma – to the village!», «Bastau Business», «Youth Practice», etc.);

- involvement of youth organizations in the implementation of state youth policy at various levels;

- Scientific support for the implementation of the state youth policy, primarily through the Youth Research Center «Youth», which develops and submits the national report «Youth of Kazakhstan» on an annual basis.

Negative aspects include:

- paternalistic approach to working with young people, where they are considered mainly as a protected and guided object;

- the predominance of the mobilization component in relations between the state and youth. This is especially evident in attracting representatives of young students to participate in various official events;

- the predominance of the ideological propaganda component over the practical (socially and economically oriented) one;

- low level of youth participation in state and industry programs, including due to insufficient information about them;

- orientation of specialized state bodies mainly to youth organizations affiliated with them. The activities of the latter, in turn, largely depend on official financial support through grants and state social orders;

- low level of participation of young citizens in the activities of youth organizations^[128].

Key areas of modernization of the state youth policy in Kazakhstan:

- support of various forms of education for young people not only in the traditional format of obtaining professional education in colleges and universities, but also through other opportunities for young people to expand their horizons and level of knowledge on issues of interest. We are talking, first of all, about distance learning, which has become quite widespread in the context of the pandemic, holding public lectures, trainings and webinars, non-profit educational initiatives of public organizations, sharing knowledge through participation in various clubs, etc. For modern Kazakh youth, in particular, it is important to get civil, legal and intercultural education. education. That is, to acquire a set of knowledge and skills that contribute to the understanding of their legal rights and the fulfillment of civil duties, the formation and manifestation of responsibility for their country, respect and tolerance for ethnic, religious and cultural characteristics in society, an intolerant attitude to various offenses, etc. This direction can be implemented through state social orders and grants, supporting the corresponding activities of various structures and individual citizens;

- increasing the level of youth participation in public life. This is especially true for participation in volunteer, charitable, environmental and other socially significant activities carried out by young people independently or under the guidance of state and non-state structures. Such activities, in order to address certain problems and issues, will also promote interaction and cohesion both within the youth themselves and between them and other groups of the population. It is important to understand that the involvement of young citizens in this activity should be carried out exclusively on a voluntary basis. It is also necessary to provide certain material and non-material incentives, including the promotion of the most distinguished students (one-time double scholarships for university and college students, awarding diplomas and valuable gifts from relevant state authorities, providing free tickets to cultural and sports events, media coverage of this activity, etc.);

- promoting the participation of young people in decision-making at various levels. Expanding practices and student self-government in colleges and universities, increasing the number of young people in consultative and advisory structures under central and local authorities, attracting activists of youth organizations to discuss current topics and issues and develop drafts of official documents on them, strengthening the activities of recruiting young citizens for public service.

The implementation of the above-mentioned directions will lead to the activation of productive activities of young citizens themselves in solving the most important issues for them and the whole society. Undoubtedly, the State and its bodies will remain responsible for various social issues, including providing assistance to the most socially vulnerable categories of young people. But the main focus should be on promoting the knowledge and participation of young people. In turn, this requires establishing and maintaining a permanent constructive dialogue between young people and interested government agencies.

In 2023, a new Concept of the state youth policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023-2029 was approved, which noted that «The implementation of support measures provided for in the Concept will increase the level and quality of intellectual abilities of young people, increase the attractiveness of participation in the development of the creative industry, create new jobs for young people in new sectors of the economy, they will foster a new pool of managers in various sectors of the national economy, reduce the level of NEET youth participation and delinquency among young»^[129] people».

Structurally, the new concept identifies the following areas in the development of youth policy in Kazakhstan:

The first area is civic participation and participation in decision-making.

Youth policy in Kazakhstan will take into account the impact of online socialization and is aimed at strengthening the state's presence in the digital space. It is planned to develop volunteer projects in areas with high potential-education, science, sports – with the expansion of grant support. It is expected to transform the institutions of public control with the participation of opinion leaders, involve young people in local self-government and promote the idea of youth parliamentarism. A rotation system will be introduced in youth councils with the participation of representatives of different professions and social groups, while the chairmen of the councils will be elected for a year and will not be able to be current civil servants or representatives of quasi-state structures.

The second direction is the realization of potential and entrepreneurship.

The UN 2030 Agenda focuses on youth participation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including education, employment and economic growth. Kazakhstan's youth policy will promote the inclusion of young people at all stages of the implementation of these goals, supporting their entrepreneurial initiative and competence development through updated educational programs. Special attention is paid to the development of business education adapted to the needs of the market economy and aimed at the formation of socially responsible entrepreneurship. It is planned to introduce innovative methods and functional interaction of state institutions at all levels. Youth resource centers (IDCs) operating in the regions of Kazakhstan will become key platforms for business education, start-up initiatives, discussions and development coordination. It also provides for an analysis of the effectiveness of grant programs, such as the «Zhas Project», aimed at reintegrating young people into public and economic life.

The third direction is education and culture.

Kazakhstan is adapting the state educational order to the changing requirements of the labor market, taking into account the forecast that 40% of the skills of specialists will change in the next 5 years. The principle of lifelong learning (continuing education) will be actively implemented, including access to online courses of world universities. The analysis of the demand for specialists will be carried out taking into account regional characteristics and the needs of enterprises, which will increase the coverage of free technical and vocational education (TvET). At the same time, career guidance is being strengthened through social services for young people. Creative industries are seen as a driver of cultural development and a «social elevator» for talented young people. It is planned to create creative clusters, business incubators and exhibition centers in Astana, Almaty and Shymkent. We will continue to support talented young people through grants and awards. Grant funding for youth and volunteer initiatives will be increased, with a focus on environmental responsibility and youth participation in solving socially significant tasks.

The fourth direction is modern values and patriotic education.

Patriotic education is an important part of the state youth policy of Kazakhstan and is aimed at forming the personality of a citizen and patriot who is ready to perform civil duties. The main focus is on the role of pedagogy in the educational process, as well as the development of respect for history, traditions and customs. For this purpose, intellectual team games in the state language will be organized, family values will be strengthened through the activities of Family Support Centers and assistance to families in difficult situations. Patriotism and readiness to defend the Motherland will be fostered through military-patriotic games («Aibyn», «Naiza») and exhibitions for young people.

The fifth direction is the information space.

Informing young people about their rights, responsibilities and opportunities will become a priority in the work of State bodies. The number and quality of information materials in the media, social networks, and official Internet resources will increase. The focus will be on promoting youth issues, strengthening interagency cooperation, and engaging youth organizations and creative youth in content creation. A pool of journalists and bloggers covering youth policy will be formed under the auspices of the authorized body. Thematic programs with the participation of young people and experts will appear on television. The Youth Development Index will be used to assess the level of youth development, as well as the National Report «Youth of Kazakhstan» will be regularly prepared. It is planned to develop scientific activities in the youth sphere, including publications, conferences and international cooperation. The effectiveness of youth policy will be based on scientific and analytical data, including longitudinal and comparative studies.

The sixth direction is a healthy lifestyle.

Studies show that existing measures are insufficient for the full development and health protection of adolescents and young people, despite economic growth and social guarantees. In this regard, it is planned to optimize the entire system of measures to preserve the health of young people.

Key areas:

- regular prevention of mental and behavioral disorders, as well as prevention of suicide and substance use;

- proactive information campaign and promotion of a healthy lifestyle (HLS);

- development of sports infrastructure: construction of at least 50 sports grounds in each region, access to halls and sections in each locality;

- promotion of a culture of prevention and reproductive health;

- Increasing HIV awareness and free testing;

- Strengthen the role of Youth Health Centers (MTCs) and increase their number to increase the coverage of adolescents and young people with mental and reproductive health services.

The seventh direction is youth and village.

Young people are the most flexible and sensitive to changes socio-demographic group, acting as an indicator of social change. Addressing the problems of rural youth, including unemployment and urban migration, requires a comprehensive approach that includes:

- creating new jobs in rural areas as the main way to solve unemployment, especially through accelerated development of the agricultural sector;

- promotion of youth entrepreneurship, development of youth initiatives through public-private partnership mechanisms;

- conducting career guidance work among rural youth (14-18 years old) and organizing job fairs on the basis of the MRC for university graduates and TVET (18-23 years old);

- development of digital literacy as a tool for successful socialization and increasing the competitiveness of regional youth in comparison with urban youth.

Thus, the new Concept of the state youth policy for 2023-2029 – demonstrates the desire to modernize the youth sector, taking into account global and national trends. Its implementation involves strengthening civic participation, developing entrepreneurship, adapting education to the needs of the time, and supporting the cultural and creative potential of young people. Effective implementation of these tasks is possible only if a stable and constructive dialogue between the state, youth and civil society is established, as well as if a favorable environment is created for the implementation of youth initiatives at all levels.

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^[126] Teslenko A. N. The Concept of Youth Work in the Republic of Kazakhstan // SCIENCE & REALITY. – 2020. – No. 4.1. – P. 12.

^[127] The Concept of State Youth Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2020 “Kazakhstan 2020: The Path to the Future” https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/P1300000191

^[128] Andrey Chebotaryov. Does Kazakhstan Need a State Youth Policy? https://nomad.su/?a=3-202107010020

^[129] The Concept of State Youth Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023–2029. https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/P2300000247. Date of acccess 11.04.2025