Shaping Physical Education

ICSSPE spoke to Tastanbek Yesentayev from the National Scientific and Practical Center of Physical Culture of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan about its role in developing physical culture and sports. 

 

ICSSPE: Could you please introduce yourself and your organisation?

 

Yesentayev: I am the General Director of the National Scientific and Practical Center of Physical Culture of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. I took up this position on July 08, 2020. 

 

I was the head of the Olympic team of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the Olympic Games in Beijing (2008) and London (2012). In London, the Olympic team of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 204 countries took the honourable 12th place. 

 

Before that, I worked for many years in the field of sports: as a physical education teacher at school, as a coach, as the head of a sports school, and headed sports work at the level of the region and the republic. I have trained several world champions of international kickboxing competitions. I was awarded the titles of Honored Coach of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Honorary Worker of Physical Education.

 

Our Center was established in 2000 as a structural division of the Ministry of Education and Science, responsible for the state and development of physical culture and sports in educational institutions of the country. According to the Charter, our Center operates in 4 areas:

ICSSPE: Can you tell us briefly about the ongoing projects of the organisation?

 

Yesentayev: At the moment, the Center implements the following projects and programmes:

 

ICSSPE: What affects did the corona virus pandemic have in your country?

 

Yesentayev: Because of the pandemic, all schools in the country have switched to the format of remote  education-online learning. Only primary school children (grades 1-4) and final grade students (grades 9 and 11/12) study offline. During periods of strengthening quarantine, college and university students also switch to online education.

 

Physical education in educational institutions is also conducted online, which negatively affected the quality of physical education lessons. Due to the transition to distance learning, the quality of lessons in all school disciplines has decreased, but this transition has affected physical culture most of all, as it is associated with a sharp decrease in physical activity of students.

 

In addition, due to the pandemic, we were unable to hold many of the mass sports and fitness events planned for the current academic year. 

 

ICSSPE: What solutions and adaptations did you find?

 

Yesentayev: The Center helps physical education teachers by consulting and issuing teaching aids for conducting lessons in an online format. In addition, the programme of advanced training courses for physical education teachers has been changed regarding the methods and forms of conducting classes online.

 

In order to increase the physical activity of children, the Center has intensified its activities in the direction of developing extracurricular physical education and mass sports. Children's and youth physical training clubs are opening, youth clubs are opening in various sports, including national ones. 

 

The Center also conducts planned mass sports and physical culture and recreation events (Gymnasiade Games, University Games) in compliance with all the requirements of the quarantine regime for the preparation of sports reserves and the recruitment of youth and student national teams of the Republic. Part of the competition is held remotely using the STRAVA, Uvintex, Igammecenter and Lichess Chess platforms. 

 

ICSSPE: Will you be keeping some of the changes once the pandemic is over?

 

Yesentayev: Yes, we will keep some of the changes. First of all, this concerns the development of mass children's sports and various forms of extracurricular education. 

 

ICSSPE: Could you tell us a bit about the aims and vision of the National Scientific and Practical Center of Physical Culture of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan?

 

Yesentayev: The purpose of our Center is to provide scientific and methodological support for physical education classes in educational institutions of the country and the development of mass children's sports. Our vision for the near future is to transform the Center into a research institute dedicated to improving the health of the nation through physical activity, sports and the formation of a healthy lifestyle.

 

The Center implements the following activities:

ICSSPE: How would you describe your organisation’s values? 

 

Yesentayev: We adhere to the following values:

ICSSPE: What are the plans and goals?

 

Yesentayev: Our upcoming plans and goals are:

ICSSPE: As a new ICSSPE member, what do you envision for future cooperation with ICSSPE?

 

Yesentayev: First of all, we expect to exchange experience and research results of the participants of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education, as well as to bring Kazakhstan's science in the field of physical culture and sports to the world level. 

 

ICSSPE: What are you most excited about regarding the ICSSPE membership?

 

Yesentayev: Most of all, we are concerned about how quickly and meaningfully we will enter the international community of ICSSPE countries, as well as the fact that we still have little idea of the capabilities of ICSSPE. 

 

ICSSPE: What can the ICSSPE membership jointly do to help in this context?

 

Yesentayev: We hope that a membership will raise the level of our scientific research; help to organise training and internships for the Center's employees in similar organisations in ICSSPE’s membership. In addition, we hope to participate in joint scientific research.