The Development of Pedagogical Education in the Semipalatinsk Region in the 1920s: Problems and Achievements of the Kazakh Pedagogical College

Abstract

The article presents formation and activity of Semipalatinsk Kazakh Pedagogical College in the 1920s, which played a key role in the training of Kazakh youth in the early years of the formation of Soviet power. The study analyzes the history of the founding of the pedagogical college, its educational programs and its role in the training of teaching staff for schools in the region. The features of the historical context, in which the training of teaching staff was conducted are determined, as well as the main difficulties faced by college in the process of training and educating future teachers, such as lack of financial resources, problems with the provision of educational materials, lack of personnel and technical equipment. The article considers key aspects of the educational process, including language policy, the level of education and qualification of teachers, it analyzes the national and age composition of students. Based on archival materials, data on the number of students and teaching staff, the list of subjects taught, and the organization of production practices are presented. Special attention is paid to the state of the educational institutions’ infrastructure, including dormitories and a library. In addition, the article analyzes innovations in educational approaches, such as the use of laboratory and guided learning methods. The article also highlights the role and contribution of graduates who later became representatives of the country’s national intelligentsia. Thus, the Kazakh Pedagogical College has become an important link in the formation of educational personnel not only for the Semipalatinsk region, but also for the whole republic.