TURKMENISTAN MINISTER OF EDUCATION WELCOMES PROPOSAL FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001236

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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