Press Release
September 22, 2026
Bilim Group Presents Mugalim Documentary Series to Mark Teacher’s Day in Kazakhstan
Ahead of Teacher’s Day and as part of its 15th anniversary celebrations, Kazakhstan’s EdTech ecosystem Bilim Group presented MUGALIM, a social impact project featuring a documentary series of the same name. More than 100 teachers, government representatives and education experts attended the special event, where they learned how the films were created and took part in a public discussion.
The Mugalim documentary project tells the stories of three teachers from different regions of Kazakhstan who are driving change in their communities, schools and the lives of their students. Aksaule Zhakypbekova from Turkistan Region helps primary school students develop logical thinking by integrating chess into their regular lessons. In Kostanay Region, Stepan Galkin is working to transform a rural school into a vibrant center of community life. Meanwhile, Dana Abeldinova from Satpayev uses debate to strengthen students’ language and critical-thinking skills, while teaching them how to build and defend their arguments.
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“For 15 years, we have told our story through numbers — tens of thousands of digital lessons, millions of users and billions of grades. But behind every number are real people — first and foremost, teachers. We wanted the country to see their faces and hear their voices. That idea became the foundation for the Mugalim documentary series and the ‘Bilim beynesi’ photography project. What struck me most during this work was how rarely teachers talk about their own challenges and how much they talk about their students and the opportunities they can create for them. They can spend hours telling you what their students have achieved, where they have been admitted, and who has returned to their hometown or village. It not only motivates us to do more for education, but also makes us look at the role of a teacher in a different way,” says Alexander Savchenko, CEO of Bilim Group.
The three-part documentary series was presented at a special event on September 22, followed by its YouTube premiere the same day. Mugalim is available to watch on the Bilim Group YouTube channel. The event also featured a public talk titled “Change Begins with the Teacher: How to Support Those Who Are Transforming Education Around Them.” The speakers included project participant Dana Abeldinova, education expert Kuralay Baitazhikova, and educator and trainer Eskendir Bestai. The discussion was moderated by Saltanat Askerbekkyzy, a media and PR expert accredited by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana. The panel explored what conditions are needed for teacher-led initiatives to grow and become part of sustainable change in education — and, most importantly, whether teachers should have to drive this change alone.
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“I believe it is especially important today to help children develop the ability to think broadly and from different perspectives. We need to raise people with broad horizons, strong critical thinking skills, the ability to find solutions to complex problems and confidently articulate their position. These are the children who will shape the country’s future. We should not limit ourselves to the idea that education is simply about a teacher passing knowledge on to a student. Teachers also have a great deal to learn — from their students and from other people. That is why we, too, need to keep learning and developing,” explains Dana Abeldinova.
The event also saw the announcement of “Bilim бейнесі”, a national photography project launching on October 1. The initiative will create a large-scale digital gallery featuring teachers from across Kazakhstan. Through photographs and short personal quotes, educators will share their stories, values and what being a teacher means to them. According to Bilim Group, the project aims to create a living portrait of contemporary education in Kazakhstan — one that puts teachers at its center. A distinctive feature of “Bilim бейнесі” is that the content of the gallery will be created by the teachers themselves, who will become its protagonists.
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“Our great thinkers, poets and writers have dedicated many wonderful works to teachers. Every year, on the first day of school and on Teacher’s Day, we hear speeches about the importance of the teaching profession and the need to respect and value it. But words remain just words if they are not backed by action. “The ‘Bilim бейнесі’ photography project is one example of such action. We hope that other initiatives aimed at supporting teachers and recognizing their contribution will follow,” emphasizes Alexander Savchenko, CEO of Bilim Group.
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