Cities / Almaty / International College of Continuous Education
International College of Continuous Education
One of the oldest private schools in Kazakhstan, opened in 1993 and authorised for the IB Primary Years and Middle Years programmes. Smaller and quieter than the marquee names.
In brief
One of the oldest private schools in Kazakhstan, opened in 1993 and authorised for the IB Primary Years and Middle Years programmes. Smaller and quieter than the marquee names.
Central Almaty location on Zheltoksan, with around 320 students across ages 3 to 18. The IB stops at MYP, so families wanting a full IB Diploma route will need to move at upper secondary. That shapes who chooses it.
Outside opinion splits sharply, with some highly positive and some critical, which usually points to a school that suits some families well and others not at all. Fees are not published, signaling a more bespoke, locally oriented intake than the major expat schools.
Reviews
Small, long-running private school on Zheltoksan with an IB Primary Years and Middle Years authorisation and a Cambridge CATs link, still led by its founder more than thirty years in. The pitch is a warm, homey community with small classes, project-based learning from year one, integrated music and clubs, and a continuous Russian-stream programme from primary through year eleven. Parents who land well describe a safe, accepted feel and teachers who give individual attention. The recurring counterweight is value for money: an ageing building and dated kit, annual fee rises that outrun visible improvements, complaints that ENT and senior-stage results don't match the IB marketing, and pockets of friction with administration.
Positives
- Community feel. Small cohorts, a homey atmosphere, and children who are willing to come in and get on with the work. Cross-year friendships are noticeable in a building this size.
- Teaching and individual attention. Classes of around fourteen rather than thirty-plus, with teachers credited for knowing each child. Project-based work from the early years, presentations, and research habits come through in parent accounts.
- Wraparound day. Music studio with dombra, piano and violin, plus robotics, art, chess and sport built into the day. Children can stay through the afternoon without a second bill for clubs.
Considerations
- Long-tenured leadership. Dr. Lyudmila Shelukhina founded the college in 1993 and still runs it. The continuity is part of the appeal for some families and the source of a stuck, dated feel for others.
- Facilities and kit. The Zheltoksan building shows its age. Parents describe tired classrooms, dim lighting, scruffy bathrooms in the senior block, and tech that lags what newer Almaty privates offer.
- Value for money. Fees rise every year and parents talk about paying premium prices for a school that hasn't reinvested in the plant. A common refrain is that the cost doesn't match the offer.
- Senior-stage outcomes. The IB authorisation covers PYP and MYP only, not the Diploma, and parents flag weaker ENT results and patchy senior English despite the international branding. Families chasing a full IB pathway or top university placement tend to move.
- Administration and complaint handling. Recurring complaints about how the office responds to parents, including mid-year fee changes and slow replies to written queries. A small number of recent accounts go further and describe leadership-level friction with families.
Leadership
Dr. Lyudmila Shelukhina
Dr. Lyudmila Shelukhina serves as the General Director of the International College of Continuous Education (ICCE), an institution she has led for over 30 years. Since its inception as one of Kazakhstan's first non-governmental schools, she has overseen the implementation of a unique 'author's concept' of continuous education. This integrated model spans from kindergarten to secondary school, harmonizing the Kazakh national curriculum with the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework. Dr. Shelukhina's leadership emphasizes a student-centered approach, fostering inquiry, critical thinking, and multicultural understanding. Under her guidance, the college has established strong ties with international partners and maintains a focus on preparing students for success in both local and global academic environments.
Academic results
- IB programmes PYP (Grades 1-4), MYP (Grades 5-10)
- Founded 1993; IB authorised from 2003