The session was organized by UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty in partnership with Teach for Qazaqstan and TeachersLab, marking another step in the partners’ ongoing collaboration to strengthen teachers’ professional capacity and foster a culture of collaboration in schools across Kazakhstan, especially the role of leadership in teacher profession.
The session brought together teachers and methodologists, providing a platform to present teacher-led development projects, exchange professional experiences and discuss practical approaches to addressing challenges in education.
Meirgul Alpysbayeva, National Professional Officer for Education at the UNESCO Almaty Office, highlighted UNESCO’s collaboration with its partners in promoting teacher leadership and introduced the Rural and Remote Area Schools (RARS) project, which aimed to create teacher professional communities in rural and remote schools through the concept of the non-positional teacher leadership.
As part of the Summer Institute, Dr. David Frost of the University of Cambridge presented the concept of Non-Positional Teacher Leadership, demonstrating how every teacher can lead meaningful change regardless of formal role or experience. Drawing on international research and practical examples, he highlighted how teacher-led professional learning and collaboration can strengthen schools while advancing educational equity. The session inspired participants to view leadership not as a position, but as a shared responsibility rooted in purpose, initiative, and continuous professional growth.
The programme also included practical workshops on identifying classroom and school-level challenges, designing solutions, presenting teacher-led initiatives and engaging in peer reflection and feedback.
Developing strong professional learning communities and empowering teachers as leaders are essential to achieving sustainable improvements in education. UNESCO will continue its partnership with Teach for Qazaqstan and TeachersLab to support innovative approaches to teachers’ professional development and contribute to improving the quality of education in rural schools of Kazakhstan.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-regional-office-almaty-teach-qazaqstan-and-teacherslab-continue-advance-teacher-leadership?hub=701
