Today Kazakhstan is facing an almost 250,000-seat deficit for students in schools. According to statistics, the country's population increases by about 400,000 children each year. In Almaty, one of the fastest-growing cities, this problem is particularly acute. The metropolitan area and its surroundings are home to 3.2 million people, and this number continues to grow each year, partly due to internal migration. Therefore, the city currently has almost 30,000 "extra" schoolchildren.
Typically, the problem of a shortage of classrooms is resolved by schools operating in three shifts. However, in Almaty, the "school issue" has been addressed without resorting to unpopular measures - entrepreneurs have stepped in to construct educational institutions.
For example, school №125 in one of Almaty's fastest-growing districts, Almagul, has acquired a comfortable new annex. The new building accommodates more than 600 elementary school students and includes 11 classrooms, a gymnasium and a landscaped area with a sports ground.
The decision to expand the school was made in connection with the construction of the multi-story residential complex "Comfort City" by SABA GROUP KZ. This same developer took on the construction of the new educational building.
"Our company aims to provide maximum comfort and ensure that the changes will benefit the residents. When we decided to build the residential complex “Comfort City,” we also thought about where the residents would send their children to school," said the President of SABA GROUP KZ, Erzhan Abdikadyrov, back in 2021, when construction was in full swing.
The company assures that all the residential buildings and educational facilities go through all the necessary approvals and expert assessments. The Comfort City residential complex and the school adjacent to it have already welcomed their new residents successfully.
"With regard to seismic safety, before obtaining construction permits in our city, the project must pass government expert assessment. There are specific requirements - for example, we have 20-floor buildings here in 'Comfort City', so the expert assessment is based on special technical conditions issued by the KazNIIISa (Institute of Seismic-Resistant Construction). We built this complex based on these conditions. The same conditions were adhered to in other projects," Erzhan Abdikadyrov explained.
School №125 in Almagul is not the only social project that received an upgrade from the developer. The company's portfolio also includes projects built from scratch. The growing population of the metropolis requires not only quality and affordable housing but also social infrastructure. Therefore, in addition to residential development by SABA GROUP KZ, kindergartens, medical centers, and even a police station are included as a bonus. Another school is in the works within the "Arman City" residential complex, so the residents of the new 52 buildings won't have to worry about finding a school for their children.
"We are starting two projects. One of them is 'Arman City,' which is located in the Medeu district on 9 hectares. There will be 52 houses. They will have its own infrastructure and its own school, which we will also transfer to the city, and other socially oriented facilities. There also will be many entertainment establishments: cafes, restaurants, an alley, a fountain," said Erzhan Abdikadyrov.
He also talked about the second project, "SABA TOWER HOTEL," which will be located along the transportation artery of Satpaev Street at the intersection with Manas Street. It will be a 23-floor building with 125 apartments, parking, and numerous restaurants, cafes, offices, as well as a spa center.
The developer transferred the new annex of the school in Almagul to the ownership of the city administration. In total, they plan to provide space for over 37,000 students in Almaty. To achieve this, 22 new schools will be constructed, with eight of them being funded by private means.
https://mediaworld.kz/k-resheniyu-problemy-nehvatki-shkol-podklyuchilsya-chastnyj-biznes/