From November 2023 to May 2024, the training “Improving the Unified National Testing Assessment System” was conducted, organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan with The World Bank. 2nd year doctoral student of the Higher School of Law Saulet Kozhakhmetova took part in the implementation of this project.
The training on the implementation of a large project was conducted online and offline for 180 hours, where 350 people, specialists in Unified National Testing subjects, took part from all regions of Kazakhstan.
The purpose of the training is to train developers, testing experts and National Testing Center specialists for the effective development and examination of tasks in accordance with international practice and ensure the further implementation of the UNT.
Within the framework of the project, four stages were carried out, each was educational in its own way; specialists at each of them were trained in the preparation and examination of test items, and mastering testology methods. For the successful implementation of the project, the Training was conducted by international and domestic experts and evaluators (Emily Jones, Ivane Mindadze, David Gabelaya, Katherine Parks, etc.).
The most difficult and very interesting was the last stage, which was devoted to the application of skills in using psychometric data to assess the effectiveness of test tasks, identify problems and suggestions for their improvement. Based on the materials studied, and during the training, each specialist improved his qualifications in testology, gaining new knowledge in this area.
This training provides an opportunity for each participant not only to improve professional skills in the field of testology, but also, in general, to introduce innovative methods into the educational process, in particular for conducting UNT to increase its effectiveness.
To summarize the implementation of this project, an Open Seminar was held on May 14, 2024. It was attended by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Sayasat Nurbek, vice-ministers, the director of the education department of Ginger-SOFRECO, Mr. Hugues Temple-Boyer, the project director and chief assessment specialist, Ms. Jenny Hsieh, the director of the National Testing Center Mr. Bolatbek Abdrasilov, and others.
At the end of the Seminar, certificates of international level were awarded, one of the owners of which was a 2nd year doctoral student at the Higher School of Law Saulet Kozhakhmetova.