Kazakhstan's Vice Minister of Education, Edil Ospan, announced on March 19, 2024, that topics on preventing drug addiction, vaping, and gambling will be included in the country's school programs. The Ministry, in collaboration with relevant state bodies, is developing and implementing several roadmaps and plans in this direction. Specifically, educational programs will cover protecting children from habits harmful to their health and development.
The harmful effects of smoking and drugs on human development will be integrated into the curriculum of the "Biology" subject for 7-9 graders. Meetings on healthy lifestyle topics will be included in the subjects "World Studies" (1-4 grades) and "Natural Science" (1-6 grades). Ospan mentioned that informational work among students will involve police officers and medical professionals, with 90,000 specialists, over 8,000 pedagogue-psychologists, and 4,000 social pedagogues being engaged in this effort.
Discussions on banning vapes have been ongoing in Kazakhstan for a year. In January 2024, the Majilis deputies passed a bill on healthcare, one of its amendments being a complete ban on vapes in the country. The bill includes provisions for a total ban on the import, production, sale, and distribution of electronic nicotine delivery systems (vapes).
