Parent Summit 2026: Inspiring Conversations and New Opportunities in Kazakhstan

On 23–24 October, Parents International gathered in Astana, Kazakhstan, for our biennial Parent Summit. The title for this year was “Repairing Broken Education Ecosystems Together”. Hosted by BINOM Schools, the event brought together parents, teachers, school leaders and other education stakeholders for two days of learning, discussion and exchange, and provided a welcome opportunity to celebrate ten years of our organisation’s work.

We could not have asked for a warmer welcome. Our hosts at BINOM Schools made us feel at home from the moment we arrived, and their hospitality contributed enormously to the atmosphere of the Summit. We were especially pleased to continue our longstanding cooperation with BINOM Schools and to build on a partnership that has already brought us many valuable opportunities to work together.

An inspiring start

We were incredibly honoured to welcome Professor João Costa, a member of Parents International’s Scientific Advisory Board, as our keynote speaker. His enlightening presentation, “Inclusive Education: Key Messages to Bridge the Policy-Implementation Gap,” challenged us to consider how ambitious education policies can translate into meaningful changes in children’s everyday lives.

The impact of his keynote was evident throughout the event. Participants referred to his ideas repeatedly during the workshops, drawing connections between his messages and their own experiences. It was particularly encouraging to see how his contribution helped shape the discussions that followed.

Learning from each other

Nearly 200 participants took part in our workshops, which addressed topics including children’s rights, teacher bullying, trauma-conscious approaches, digitalisation, and the schools and families of tomorrow.

The enthusiasm was remarkable. Participants were open, curious and eager to share their perspectives, even when discussions challenged established practices or assumptions. Our interactive approach was met with genuine interest, and many conversations continued well beyond the time allocated to the activities.

These exchanges were valuable for us as well. Rather than simply delivering training, we had the opportunity to better understand the experiences, priorities and questions of parents and teachers in Kazakhstan.

One particularly interesting observation concerned attitudes towards technology. Many participants were enthusiastic about digital solutions and artificial intelligence in education, sometimes without giving equal consideration to privacy, data protection and human rights.

While this enthusiasm for innovation is welcome, the discussions highlighted the need for a more critical approach to educational technology. At Parents International, we strongly believe that digital tools should be evaluated not only for their potential benefits but also for their implications for children’s rights, agency and well-being. Technology should respond to the needs of children and their communities, rather than determine them.

New opportunities for cooperation

The workshops also helped us identify areas where further training could make a meaningful contribution.

Children’s rights and child agency emerged as particularly important topics. There is an opportunity to strengthen understanding of children as rights-holders whose views deserve to be heard and taken seriously, and to introduce practical participatory methodologies that make this possible.

Meaningful child participation requires more than inviting children to express their opinions. It means creating environments where they can influence decisions affecting their lives, whether at school, at home or in their communities. Supporting parents and teachers in developing these practices could be an important direction for our future cooperation.

We also see opportunities to continue conversations about responsible digitalisation, particularly the relationship between technological innovation, privacy and human rights.

A celebration with children at its heart

Alongside the workshops and presentations, we enjoyed wonderful musical and dance performances by children from BINOM Schools.

What made these performances especially memorable was not only the talent on display, but how much the children themselves seemed to enjoy the experience. Watching their excitement and enthusiasm was a genuine pleasure.

Looking ahead

Celebrating Parents International’s tenth anniversary in Kazakhstan was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on how far we have come and where our work might take us next.

We return from Astana with new perspectives, ideas for future training and a deeper appreciation of the commitment of the parents and teachers we met.

Our heartfelt thanks go to BINOM Schools for hosting us and for the extraordinary welcome, to Professor João Costa for his thought-provoking keynote, to the children who brought so much joy to the celebrations, and to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of the Summit.

The event reinforced an important message: improving education requires more than good policies or innovative tools. It depends on the relationships we build, the perspectives we are willing to consider and our ability to work together while keeping children’s rights and well-being at the centre.

We look forward to continuing these conversations and turning the ideas that emerged in Astana into new opportunities for cooperation.