Astana. April 1. Kazakhstan Today - Level of literacy in Kazakhstan is on the 14th place out of 177 countries of the world. The Minister of Education and Science Zhanseyit Tuymebayev informed during the meeting with the President of the country Nursultan Nazarbayev on Monday, the agency reports referring to the president's press service. According to the minister, 4.5 million people study in the Republic. The education system covers 30 % of the population of the country. "For the last 10 years financing of education has grown by 10 times. In 2008 education financing has increased by 10 billion KZT," Z. Tuymebayev said at the briefing. The Minister of Education and Science noted that "in 2007 quantity of kindergartens increased by 226 that is comparable to the quantitative growth of pre-school institutions during 2000-2006." The Education Minister emphasized that "there are positive changes in vocational training. In 2007, 21 professional educational institutions were opened. 56 billion KZT has been allocated for construction of 45 professional schools."