ASTANA. June 15. KAZINFORM This week the Government of Kazakhstan concentrated on the problems of ecology and budget implementation in 2011. In addition, members of the Government gave consideration to the preparation of Kazakhstani athletes to London-2012 and results of the single national testing.

Earlier this week Minister of Environmental Protection Nurlan Kapparov said it was necessary to expand the share of clean sources in the energy structure of the country. According to him, the energy sector of the country is the only pollutant of the air basin and 'producer' of greenhouse gas emissions and industrial wastes.

Currently, 87 per cent of Kazakhstan's energy sector operates on coal. The share of coal in wastes production is predicted to make 66 per cent by 2020. For this reason, Minister Kapparov stressed it was crucial to scale up the share of clean sources in the sector.

In line with the data provided by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, gas resources in Kazakhstan amount to 3.7 trillion of cu. m. Gas unlike coal produces half as much CO2 and consumes less water.

The head of the Ministry also added that climate warming in Kazakhstan was in high gear and the climate conditions were changing faster than in the rest of the world. The glacier area of Tien Shan Mountains decreased for 25-35 per cent in 2000s. The majority of glaciers are believed to melt away by 2050, if the tendency preserves.

"This situation poses a threat to water supply of the agricultural sector, industry and population of our country," N. Kapparov noted.

He underlined that nowadays water deficit in Kazakhstan accounted for 20 per cent and this figure would only increase.

However, the minister pointed out the country could cut down the water consumption. It is necessary to introduce new water preserving technologies.

Also this week the Government and the Calculating Committee accounted to the Senate for the implementation of the republican budget in 2011.

The governmental agencies of Kazakhstan failed to use more than KZT 42 billion of budget money in 2011.

Ministry of Finance did not use KZT 10 billion, the National Security Committee - KZT 9.8 billion, Emergencies Ministry - KZT 6.5 billion, Healthcare Ministry - KZT 3.1 billion, and Ministry of Industry and New Technologies - KZT 2.8 billion.

The Kazakh Agency for Sport Affairs and JSC "National Welfare Fund "Samruk-Kazyna" signed the Memorandum of Cooperation this week, according to which the National Welfare Fund would be the official partner of Kazakhstan's national team at London-2012.

"By supporting our athletes we invest into the future of our country, health and competitiveness of next generations of Kazakhstanis," Umirzak Shukeyev, CEO of JSC "National Welfare Fund "Samruk-Kazyna", said at the signing ceremony.

Chairmen of the Kazakh Agency for Sport Affairs T.Yermegiyayev thanked fund's top-management for timely support of Kazakhstani sportsmen and assured that they will do their best at the upcoming Olympic Games in Great Britain. JSC "National Welfare Fund "Samruk-Kazyna" allotted KZT 900 million to support the national team of Kazakhstan.

Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan summed up results of the Single National Testing (SNT) on Friday (June 15).

According to the data, 117 432 school leavers (81 027 with Kazakh and 36 405 with Russian language of instruction) passed the SNT. "The average score across the country makes 70.9 points which is 15.7points lower than in the previous year. 43 163 students (36.8 per cent) failed to score the required number of points to enter the higher education institutions of the country. The SNT results of 100 students were annulled because of repeated violation of rules," Vice Minister of Education and Science Makhmetkali Sarybekov said.

The Ministry is planning to use its more than 10-year experience in SNT conduction in order to improve its standards and technologies.

 

In tune with the State Program of Education Development for 2011-2020 the Single National Testing will be divided into two stages in 2013 on an experimental basis.