TURKMENISTAN MINISTER OF EDUCATION WELCOMES PROPOSAL FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001236 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, EUR/ACE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID SOCI TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN MINISTER OF EDUCATION WELCOMES PROPOSAL FOR COOPERATION WITH USAID ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (U) SUMMARY: In a November 9 meeting to discuss possible cooperation under USAID's new regional basic education program, Education Minister Muhammetgeldi Annaamanov told USAID representatives that training for primary and secondary teachers, as well as school directors, is a focus of the Ministry as it attempts to introduce international standards. In an indication of the Ministry's limited technical capacity, he acknowledged the difficulty of assessing which approaches were best and displayed an unclear understanding of the difference between interactive teaching methodologies and computer-based multimedia resources. The Minister stated that there should be "no limit for improvements" in the education sector and welcomed a proposal from USAID. Hallway comments after the meeting by the Ministry's international department chief and rumors of the Minister's pending departure, however, indicate that obstacles to cooperation in this important sector might still remain. END SUMMARY. DELICATE INTRODUCTION TO USAID'S NEW EDUCATION PROGRAM ¶3. (U) On November 9, USAID/Almaty's Regional Education Specialist and the Chief of Party of USAID's new regional Quality Learning program met with Minister of Education Mahammetgeldi Annaamanov to discuss opportunities for cooperation. USAID Country Representative detailed the important changes taking place in the education sector in Turkmenistan and said cooperation in this sector of mutual importance should grow. Recognizing the recent steps taken to familiarize Ministry specialists with international experience, including a recent study tour to Finland and the UK, USAID Country Representative stated that the goal of the meeting was to solicit the Ministry's feedback for a forthcoming USAID proposal for cooperation. ¶4. (U) USAID's Regional Education Specialist highlighted several recommendations made by the Ministry's specialists following their return from Finland in which USAID has gained extensive experience in Central Asia. Noting that quality improvement is an ongoing process, she identified these as possible areas for future cooperation. The Minister was very interested in her description of an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) test that measures students' workforce competitiveness. Russia has participated in this study since 2000, and educational authorities there have been surprised to learn that while students scored high on quantity of knowledge, their ability to apply this knowledge was lower than in other OECD nations. As a result, education systems around the world are reforming to address workplace needs. ¶5. (U) The Chief of Party for the USAID/Creative Associates International described his background and recent work as a business professor and university administrator in Central Asia to the Minister. The Minister, himself an economist and the former rector of the National Economic Institute, asked specifically about his educational qualifications. Upon learning that they shared common technical training, the Minister smiled broadly and said, "We're colleagues." He said the Ministry was "quite open" to support in its efforts to obtain information on advances in the education sector, and asked specifically for the reports discussed by USAID's education specialist. CURRICULUM REVISIONS ON THE HORIZON ¶6. (U) The Minister described the need for practical teaching methodologies due to the changes in education system that extended secondary school to ten years and returned university to five years of classroom study. He explained that the Ministry will begin drafting a new curriculum "within a short time," and wants to incorporate international standards. Teachers' qualifications will need to be improved, and he described the Ministry's support for introducing new information, such as a recent short-course in interactive/multimedia methodologies. In addition, school directors need training on a variety of issues, ranging from legal issues, such as familiarity with the labor code, to administrative subjects, like accounting and finance. He suggested monthly courses would help build capacity in this area. ASHGABAT 00001236 002 OF 002 CONFUSION OVER MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES ¶7. (U) Schools across Turkmenistan also are being provided with computers. Since the country has embarked on a program of school and kindergarten construction, the minister advised that they must know the best standards for equipping these schools. Currently, "interactive/multimedia" technologies are already being applied in selected Ashgabat schools, and the ministry is trying to assess results obtained from new methods supplied by different organization. "Who's practice is best?" he asked. "Since companies will provide the equipment, we need to know who's is best." (COMMENT: This statement appears to confuse interactive, child-centered approaches promoted by international organizations, and the technologically impressive multimedia systems favored by high officials and commercial entities participating in the tenders. In an earlier meeting, when "interactive education" was mentioned, the ministry's International Relations Chief Nury Bayramov sneered, "We know all about that. The Soviet Union introduced TVs into classrooms in the 1960s!" END COMMENT.) Still, the Minister acknowledged there is "no limit for improvements" in the education sector, and welcomed a proposal. ¶8. (U) The Ministry's International Department Chief elaborated on the issue of technology in the classroom, and explained that the ministry has an existing program with the UNDP to buy 12,000 Hewlett-Packard computers for schools that will be provided with wireless Internet connections. In a surprising development, he also said that the Ministry is very interested in 10-day courses for teachers at the National Institute of Education. (COMMENT: This entity's role has steadily eroded over the years with his perceived support. END COMMENT.) The course should not be limited to secondary teachers, but should include kindergarten teachers, too. Unfortunately, due to their busy schedulse, such training could start only next summer. Another possible area of cooperation is providing computer skills to children, the importance of which was highlighted on an earlier trip to Malaysia. (COMMENT: It is surprising that this trip was referenced as the inspiration, since both the minister and deputy prime minister were publicly criticized by President Berdimuhamedov following their return for not achieving any tangible results during the trip. END COMMENT.) ¶9. (SBU) COMMENT: For the first time in recent memory, the Ministry of Education engaged substantively with USAID on potential cooperation during a meeting. USAID will submit a proposal in the nearest future that outlines possible joint activities and continue to pursue a cooperation agreement that formalizes its work with the Ministry. END COMMENT. HOAGLAND