QAZAQ GREEN. In Karaganda, solar panels will be installed to illuminate the area around the Nurken Abdirov School, using alternative energy sources. These solar panels will power streetlights, a project made possible by the successful participation of students in the nationwide NXplorers Zhasyl Urpak ecological competition, according to the press service of the Karaganda regional akimat.

The final stage of the competition took place in Astana, where five teams out of twenty were awarded grants of one million tenge each to implement their projects.

The Karaganda team secured third place. It consisted of three 10th-grade students from Nurken Abdirov School: Nurislam Abutalipov, Aliaskar Zhumabekov, and Erkebulan Myltykbai. Their project leader was Meruert Ibraeva, a geography teacher and STEM project coordinator at the school.

“Our school has a long-standing history, and in December, we will celebrate our 50th anniversary. We strive to stay up-to-date with modern advancements. While we don't yet have a dedicated STEM classroom, we are actively working towards it. Last year, our students participated in the ecological project competition but didn’t win a prize. This year, however, they succeeded in earning a grant. Energy conservation is a pressing issue, and we have six months to complete the project. I believe we’ll finish even earlier – by the end of winter,” said Gulshat Bagramova, principal of Nurken Abdirov School.

The NXplorers program marks another significant step in advancing STEAM education in Kazakhstan. The competition was organized by the Daryn Republican Scientific and Practical Centre and the Caravan of Knowledge Corporate Foundation, with support from the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Shell Kazakhstan Energy Company.