Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASHGABAT1310
2007-12-03 07:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN: MEETING WITH MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Tags:  AMGT ASCH TX 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #1310 3370712
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030712Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9822
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
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RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1970
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001310 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, NEA/SCA/EX, M/A/OPR/OS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT ASCH TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MEETING WITH MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
ON ASHGABAT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

REF: ASHGABAT 1300

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001310

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, NEA/SCA/EX, M/A/OPR/OS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT ASCH TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: MEETING WITH MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
ON ASHGABAT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

REF: ASHGABAT 1300


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) The next step in the process of registering the
Quality Schools International (QSI)- run Ashgabat
International School (AIS) took place November 30 when MFA
arranged a meeting for the Embassy with the Ministry of
Education (MoE). The Charge met with First Deputy Minister
of Education Gundoggy Shadurdyev, Deputy Minister for Schools
and Pre-Schools Gulshat Mammedova and Head of the
International Department Nury Bayramov. Mammedova, who had
the lead, said a 1994 Agreement signed between QSI and the
MoE was no longer suitable, as it does not accurately
describe the schools activities and is not fully compliant
with contemporary Turkmenistan internal regulations. She
noted, however, that the presence of an international school
in Turkmenistan was &understandable,8 as expatriate
children could not reasonably use local schools, and some
citizens of Turkmenistan would like the opportunity to study
in English. She asked the Embassy to prepare a new draft
agreement, to which the Ministry would provide comments. The
MoE officials requested a copy of the &future8 curriculum,
alluding to earlier indications from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs that some courses on Turkmen language, culture, and
history may be required to gain final approval (Reftel).
They mentioned the Ministry was particularly interested in
the name of the school and wanted to be sure that "Ashgabat"
be part of it. (COMMENT: The school is called the Ashgabat
International School, so it struck us as an odd request.
Evidently, they want to be sure that part of the name is not
changed during the process. Interestingly, the Russian
school, which is sponsored jointly by the Russian and
Turkmenistan governments does not contain Ashgabat in its
name. The school is named after Pushkin. END COMMENT.)


3. (SBU) Bayramov asked that the agreement (with copy of the
future curriculum attached) be sent via the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and noted it would eventually need Cabinet of
Ministers approval. He was especially careful to explain
that any ongoing questions over the current location of the
school had to be discussed with the Ashgabat mayor's office
and not the MoE. The next meeting between the Embassy and
MoE regarding the school would take place after receipt of
the new draft agreement.


4. (SBU) On December 1, Charge and Embassy Management Officer
met with the AIS director to brief him in detail about the
meeting and discuss the timeline for submitting the draft
agreement. He welcomed the news of progress on the school's
registration and said incorporating a Turkmen History and
language course should not be a problem, since that would be
a local decision that he would not have to refer to QSI
leadership. He said he would talk to QSI leadership on
December 3 and obtain copies of standard QSI school
agreements to use as a starting point. He estimated that a
draft could be ready by early December 5. The group decided
to meet again December 5 to review the draft before
submitting it to MFA via diplomatic note.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: This latest round of interaction is yet
more good news in the effort to regularize the school's
status. AIS wants to expand its operations to account for
increased demand and to prepare for what promises to be a
large influx of expatriates over the coming year.
Bayramov,s request for the &future curriculum8 appears to
confirm that the Turkmenistan government would like to ensure
that a school in Turkmenistan that also teaches Turkmen
students include instruction about the country.
CURRAN