The Center for Pedagogical Measurements (CPM) in Kazakhstan receives the international RCEC quality mark

In the previous period, RCEC conducted a product audit of the Student Selection System of the Center for Pedagogical Measurements (CPM) of the Autonomous Educational Organisation ‘Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools’ (AEO-NIS) in Astana in Kazakhstan. The purpose of this audit was to determine the extent to which this selection test meets international quality standards for educational testing, as described in the RCEC Review System.

The Student Selection System is a well established standard in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The test is administered annually to around 25,000 children spread across the country and seeking admission to Grade 7 of one of the 21 Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS). Grade 7 is similar to the start of upper secondary school.

The Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) are a platform in Kazakhstan where modern, internationally oriented, educational programmes are implemented. Specialising in physics and mathematics or chemistry and biology, the Intellectual Schools were established to educate gifted and talented children. NIS was founded by decree of the Ministry of Education in Kazakhstan. The NIS platform is now 10 years old, with 21 NIS schools and 2,550 teachers providing education to 16,000 students across the country. The NIS education programme has gained recognition both at home and abroad. Since 2010, more than 14,500 students have graduated from NIS to successfully continue their education at the best national and international universities.

The Center for Pedagogical Measurements was established in 2012 to develop and implement all assessment procedures for NIS. In collaboration with Cito and Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, the Student Selection System was developed. This selection system is unique in content and integrity and ensures the admission of children who are eligible to study science and mathematics.

The RCEC audit resulted in a positive assessment. By obtaining the quality mark, CPM proves that the Student Selection System meets the highest substantive, organisational and psychometric quality standards for educational testing. On 21 October, the certificate was ceremoniously awarded to Ms Kulyash Shamshidinova, NIS Chairperson. The ceremony took place during the two-day Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools AEO’s XIII International Research-to-Practice Conference in Astana, where 2,300 NIS teachers were present.

Watch the ceremony on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cj-Fd1RL6nS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link