IMPACT-se’s latest report offers a nuanced look at over 100 Kazakhstani school textbooks used from Grades 2 to 11, examining how they portray Jews, Judaism, Israel, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. The findings reflect Kazakhstan’s commitment to promoting religious and cultural tolerance. Judaism is introduced respectfully as part of the country’s multicultural makeup, with textbooks highlighting Jewish beliefs, rituals, scripture, and contributions to global civilization. Students are encouraged to value interfaith harmony, and there are clear efforts to distinguish religious conservatism from extremism.Textbooks also acknowledge antisemitism and the Nazi genocide of Jews, though key terminology such as “Holocaust,” “concentration camps,” and “ghetto” is absent—signaling a need to deepen Holocaust education. Portrayals of Israel vary: while upper-grade books offer thoughtful, even admiring accounts (including Israel’s revival of Hebrew), others contain inaccuracies and one-sided framing of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The report recognizes a strong foundation for promoting peace and inclusion in Kazakhstan’s education system, while encouraging further alignment with international standards of tolerance and historical accuracy.
