Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASHGABAT171
2006-02-03 10:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
NIYAZOV FORMALIZES DOWNGRADING OF THEORETICAL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAH #0171 0341022 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 031022Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6954
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000171
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ECA AND EUR/CACAEN, INFO EUR/PPD, DAS/SA
GASTRIGHT and SA/PPD SCHWARTZ
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL PGOV SOCI PHUM EAGR ELAB KPAO TX
SUBJECT: NIYAZOV FORMALIZES DOWNGRADING OF THEORETICAL
STUDIES AND SELECTS WEAK MINISTER OF EDUCATION
REF A: ASHGABAT 00138; REF B: 2005 ASHGABAT 01318
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000171
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ECA AND EUR/CACAEN, INFO EUR/PPD, DAS/SA
GASTRIGHT and SA/PPD SCHWARTZ
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL PGOV SOCI PHUM EAGR ELAB KPAO TX
SUBJECT: NIYAZOV FORMALIZES DOWNGRADING OF THEORETICAL
STUDIES AND SELECTS WEAK MINISTER OF EDUCATION
REF A: ASHGABAT 00138; REF B: 2005 ASHGABAT 01318
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) Upon his return from a rare trip to Moscow,
Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov convened meetings in
which he reshuffled the heads of major Turkmen
educational institutions, appointed a new Minister of
Education with little relevant experience, and issued
pronouncements that threaten to further erode the Turkmen
educational system. Niyazov seems bent on dismantling
the last vestiges of theoretical instruction in Turkmen
schools and replacing it with student-led "practical"
training. End Summary.
DAWN MEETING AT AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE BODES ILL FOR R&D
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) Convening a pre-sunrise meeting at Ashgabat's
Turkmen Agricultural University (TAU) on January 25,
President Niyazov reviewed TAU's curriculum and announced
a series of changes. Niyazov questioned the need for six
distinct faculties within TAU, including agricultural
economics, grain studies, cotton studies and soil
studies. He ordered that these faculties be abolished
and re-instituted as departments within the university.
He also created new departments, including agricultural
banking and food products.
3. (SBU) Niyazov declared that the Soviet system
overemphasized theoretical studies to the detriment of
practical expertise. He announced that a TAU education
should be five years instead of four, but only two years
would take place at TAU, with the remaining three spent
farming collective fields under the supervision of the
local etrap governors. The students are to be organized
into "councils of young farmers" to share practical
expertise on farming among themselves, as opposed to
receiving guidance from professors or specialists. Only
after this five year period will TAU students be eligible
to receive their diploma.
SHUFFLING PLACES WEAKER CANDIDATES at TOP
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) Niyazov then appointed new rectors for both
Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute (TSPI) and the
Turkmen Agricultural University (TAU). Niyazov appointed
Rejepmurat Charyevich Galayev, previous Turkmen State
University (TSU) rector, to the post of rector of the
Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute named after
Seyitnazar Seydi (TSPI); the rector of TSPI was fired.
[Comment: As mentioned in Reftel A, Galayev's new
position is a de facto demotion, and follows Niyazov's
accusations that Galayev had taken bribes from Turkmen
seeking admission to TSU. End Comment.] Niyazov has not
yet named a new rector for TSU. Esenmurat Orazgeldiyev,
previous rector of TAU, was named Agriculture Minister,
and Gurtmurat Posykov replaced him as TAU rector.
5. (SBU) Niyazov appointed a new Minister of Education,
Shemshat Annagulyeva, filling a position which had been
vacant over two months following the appointment of
previous Minister Hydyr Sarlyev as Ambassador to Armenia
on October 31, 2005 [Reftel B]. Annagulyeva had served
as deputy mayor of Ashgabat since August 2005, but is
otherwise ill-prepared for her new position, having
served as a kindergarten/primary school teacher and
briefly as administrator at a small high school in
Ashgabat. Niyazov noted that Saparlyev "was a bit of a
weak person" but has named a successor with arguably less
experience. [Comment: In a meeting with Embassy
representatives in 2005, Annagulyeva appeared especially
timid; Ministry of Education Senior Specialist Nury
Saparovich dominated the meeting. End Comment.]
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) Niyazov's decisions are not surprising, given
his determination to keep the Turkmen population
ignorant. While his selection of a weak Minister of
Education with strengthen the hand of Saparovich, post
hopes it will not further jeopardize USG exchange
programs and the June 2006 Central Asian Teachers of
English Conference (CATEC).
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ECA AND EUR/CACAEN, INFO EUR/PPD, DAS/SA
GASTRIGHT and SA/PPD SCHWARTZ
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL PGOV SOCI PHUM EAGR ELAB KPAO TX
SUBJECT: NIYAZOV FORMALIZES DOWNGRADING OF THEORETICAL
STUDIES AND SELECTS WEAK MINISTER OF EDUCATION
REF A: ASHGABAT 00138; REF B: 2005 ASHGABAT 01318
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) Upon his return from a rare trip to Moscow,
Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov convened meetings in
which he reshuffled the heads of major Turkmen
educational institutions, appointed a new Minister of
Education with little relevant experience, and issued
pronouncements that threaten to further erode the Turkmen
educational system. Niyazov seems bent on dismantling
the last vestiges of theoretical instruction in Turkmen
schools and replacing it with student-led "practical"
training. End Summary.
DAWN MEETING AT AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE BODES ILL FOR R&D
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) Convening a pre-sunrise meeting at Ashgabat's
Turkmen Agricultural University (TAU) on January 25,
President Niyazov reviewed TAU's curriculum and announced
a series of changes. Niyazov questioned the need for six
distinct faculties within TAU, including agricultural
economics, grain studies, cotton studies and soil
studies. He ordered that these faculties be abolished
and re-instituted as departments within the university.
He also created new departments, including agricultural
banking and food products.
3. (SBU) Niyazov declared that the Soviet system
overemphasized theoretical studies to the detriment of
practical expertise. He announced that a TAU education
should be five years instead of four, but only two years
would take place at TAU, with the remaining three spent
farming collective fields under the supervision of the
local etrap governors. The students are to be organized
into "councils of young farmers" to share practical
expertise on farming among themselves, as opposed to
receiving guidance from professors or specialists. Only
after this five year period will TAU students be eligible
to receive their diploma.
SHUFFLING PLACES WEAKER CANDIDATES at TOP
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) Niyazov then appointed new rectors for both
Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute (TSPI) and the
Turkmen Agricultural University (TAU). Niyazov appointed
Rejepmurat Charyevich Galayev, previous Turkmen State
University (TSU) rector, to the post of rector of the
Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute named after
Seyitnazar Seydi (TSPI); the rector of TSPI was fired.
[Comment: As mentioned in Reftel A, Galayev's new
position is a de facto demotion, and follows Niyazov's
accusations that Galayev had taken bribes from Turkmen
seeking admission to TSU. End Comment.] Niyazov has not
yet named a new rector for TSU. Esenmurat Orazgeldiyev,
previous rector of TAU, was named Agriculture Minister,
and Gurtmurat Posykov replaced him as TAU rector.
5. (SBU) Niyazov appointed a new Minister of Education,
Shemshat Annagulyeva, filling a position which had been
vacant over two months following the appointment of
previous Minister Hydyr Sarlyev as Ambassador to Armenia
on October 31, 2005 [Reftel B]. Annagulyeva had served
as deputy mayor of Ashgabat since August 2005, but is
otherwise ill-prepared for her new position, having
served as a kindergarten/primary school teacher and
briefly as administrator at a small high school in
Ashgabat. Niyazov noted that Saparlyev "was a bit of a
weak person" but has named a successor with arguably less
experience. [Comment: In a meeting with Embassy
representatives in 2005, Annagulyeva appeared especially
timid; Ministry of Education Senior Specialist Nury
Saparovich dominated the meeting. End Comment.]
COMMENT
--------------
6. (SBU) Niyazov's decisions are not surprising, given
his determination to keep the Turkmen population
ignorant. While his selection of a weak Minister of
Education with strengthen the hand of Saparovich, post
hopes it will not further jeopardize USG exchange
programs and the June 2006 Central Asian Teachers of
English Conference (CATEC).