Another schooling year ends in Kazakhstan

A solemn ceremony traditionally called Last Bell, which marks the end of the schooling year, has been held in Kazakhstan&rsquos schools on May 25, Tengrinews reports.

Certainly, many students will get back to their studies already this fall, but for 4,407 Astana's students this day was full of both happiness and sadness, as they were forever leaving their school, a place, which became almost a home for most of them during the previous 11 years.

Among them, 3,554 graduates had to pass the Unified National Testing, an examination, which all school graduates in Kazakhstan must take in order to be accepted in Kazakhstan's higher educational institutions.

#64 school like any other school in Kazakhstan's capital had its solemn line-up on a quite cold and rainy day. But despite such weather, there were smiles on students&rsquo faces, and some of them were crying to say goodbye to their school years. 

But that school&rsquos Last Bell ceremony was special, because Kazakhstan&rsquos Minister of Education and Science Aslan Sarinzhipov took part in it. Besides, the solemn line-up was streamed live.

Sarinzhipov once again reminded about 100 Steps program developed by Kazakhstan&rsquos President Nursultan Nazarbayev during his election campaign, which said that all the necessary conditions were created in Kazakhstan for a person to get a quality education.

School graduates danced their last farewell waltz. The bell rang, but it did not invite students into classes, but denoted a new stage in their lives &ndash taking the UNT and choosing their future path.

In the meantime, school graduates enjoyed their last moments of happiness with their classmates and teachers.

Astana's Mayor Adilbek Dzhaksybekov took part in the solemn ceremony of #6 school, from which he graduated back in the 1970s. "Dear students, today you finished your studies at school. Classes, exams and all this school life that you will always remember, are all left behind. You are just about to enter the adult life and face new and more tough challenges and probably some (life) tests, because a life cannot go without it. (...) As you probably know, I am a graduate of this school. Once upon a time, back in 1972, I was also here in the yard, and I was thinking about how the rest of my life would go. When you encounter difficulties, I wish you to always have some goal that would inspire you, that would give you strength and help you through. And memories of school where you studied, of your friends and teachers, also help in life. And always, wherever you are, wherever you work, remember and be proud that you are graduates of #6 school of Astana, capital of our Kazakhstan," Dzhaksybekov said when speaking to students of the school.

Reporting by Asemgul Kassenova, writing by Assel Satubaldina