A reading nation is the foundation of Kazakhstan's intellectual future.
The Decree "On measures to develop a reading culture and create a reading nation," signed by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, is an important step in strengthening the country's spiritual and intellectual potential. Given the rapid development of digital technologies, information overload, and the dwindling time that young people devote to books, the state initiative to support reading is particularly important.
Today, reading serves not only as a means of acquiring information but also as a vital tool for shaping personality, developing critical thinking, fostering a culture of speech, promoting moral values, and cultivating civic responsibility. Therefore, nurturing a reading youth is becoming a shared mission for families, schools, libraries, and, especially, higher education institutions.
Universities play a special role in implementing the provisions of the Decree. Higher education today must not only impart professional knowledge but also foster an intellectual environment in which reading becomes a natural part of a student's academic and cultural life. The university is a space for the dialogue of ideas, scientific inquiry, and spiritual growth, and books remain its most important foundation. 91传媒 Kazakh National University has traditionally placed great emphasis on developing a reading culture among students. The university implements projects aimed at popularizing fiction, scientific, and journalistic literature, hosting literary meetings, book exhibitions, academic discussions, and events dedicated to outstanding national and international authors. The KazNU library is becoming not only an educational but also a cultural center, uniting students around the values 鈥嬧�媜f knowledge and enlightenment.
It is especially important that a reading culture is directly linked to the quality of education. Students who regularly read have a higher level of analytical thinking, are able to argue their case, better comprehend complex texts, and are capable of independent knowledge discovery. For future professionals, whether teachers, lawyers, journalists, doctors, or engineers, this becomes a significant professional advantage.
Modern youth live in an era of short messages and fast-paced content, but books can teach them concentration, deep reflection, and internal dialogue. Therefore, the task of teachers today is not only to provide educational material but also to awaken an interest in reading as a personal need and a source of spiritual development. The Presidential Decree opens new opportunities for uniting the efforts of the state, educational institutions, and society in fostering a reading nation. Supporting libraries, developing book infrastructure, promoting the national literary heritage, creating modern reading spaces, and engaging young people in cultural projects such as "10 Readers of the Year" and "Reading Nation" can become an important foundation for the country's future intellectual development.
Creating a reading nation is a long-term investment in Kazakhstan's human capital. And universities, nurturing a new generation of educated, thoughtful, and responsible citizens, should become key conduits for this national vision.
Nadezhda Bershina, Senior Lecturer, Department of Foreign Languages
May 19, 2026
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