TURKMENISTAN: SUPREME COUNCIL APPROVES INTERNATIONAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000710 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, EEB AID/W FOR EE/EA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: SUPREME COUNCIL APPROVES INTERNATIONAL RESEARACH AND EXCHANGES BOARD PROPOSAL FOR EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER REF: A. 07 ASHGABAT 1140 ¶B. 07 ASHGABAT 1389 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On May 26, Turkmenistan's Supreme Council on Science and Technology formally approved a proposal from the International Research and Exchanges Board to develop the use of technology for education, science, and research in Turkmenistan. As a first step, the International Research and Exchanges Board will establish an information resource center housed within the Supreme Council that will have access to the Virtual Silk Highway program's high-speed Internet connection. The center will help to prepare Turkmenistan's teachers with the computer skills necessary to use multimedia classrooms effectively. After approximately one year of cooperation, the project will organize a conference for local education officials, and educators and professors from universities, institutes and secondary schools. Participants of the conference will learn about opportunities available for them through the project. The proposal's acceptance represents another step forward in cooperation with this progressive institution that plays a leading role in introducing new technologies in a variety of sectors in Turkmenistan. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) The Embassy submitted the International Research and Exchanges Board's proposal to develop the use of technology for education, science, and research in Turkmenistan on January 24 for the Supreme Council on Science and Technology's consideration. Funding for the proposal comes from the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project will initially establish a Center for Supporting Technology in Education, Research, and Advancement on the premises of the Supreme Council in Ashgabat, and in a possible second phase, place additional pilot centers in Dashoguz and Turkmenbashy cities. In these centers, the Supreme Council and the International Research and Exchanges Board will explore new ways to develop the use of technology for education, science, and research in Turkmenistan. Each Center will be equipped with five computers and related equipment, and staffed by a qualified expert in the field of information technology education. ¶4. (SBU) In addition to providing information technology training and access to computers and the Internet, the Project will host a variety of events and services. In order to prepare teachers with information technology skills to use multimedia classrooms effectively, the center will be equipped to give teachers and students the opportunity to use new technologies in a simulated setting. The project will also help teachers from Turkmenistan to create an e-platform that will host opportunities for students' and teachers' educational development, online resources for various subjects, an e-library and educational catalogue, projects and competitions, and online forums. The e-platform will also serve as a place for teachers to do research as well as connect with colleagues from Eurasia and the United States to share and exchange ideas and best practices. The interactive and user-friendly resources will help educators to incorporate educational technology into their classroom activities. ¶5. (SBU) Educators in Turkmenistan will learn to use new technology when planning lessons in order to increase the impact of the learning process. The project can provide resources to create an online database of lesson plans for submitting and finding lesson plan materials, and for asking questions or providing feedback on these lessons in a forum. In order to provide incentives for teachers to test information technologies and methodologies in the Turkmen media classrooms, the project is prepared to support competitions that recognize the best lesson plan each quarter. Lesson plans will be submitted via e-mail with stated goals and objectives, a description of the curriculum, classroom activities, equipment needed, links to related resources, and lesson materials created in Word and Excel. ASHGABAT 00000710 002 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) After 9-12 months of cooperation, International Research and Exchanges Board will bring representatives from selected regional educational departments together with educators and professors from universities, institutes, and secondary schools for a conference in Ashgabat. This conference will demonstrate to educators and others the success of the project center, and participants will learn about the opportunities available through the Project. Over time, International Research and Exchanges Board will establish relationships with additional stakeholders to expand and maintain the project. ¶8. (SBU) COMMENT: The Supreme Council has been very receptive to expanded cooperation with USAID and other U.S. entities. Although its Deputy Chairwoman and key Supreme Council staff privately acknowledge the challenges in developing the education sector due to the obstructive role of the Ministry of Education, they continue to look for ways to work with existing limitations by deploying the Supreme Council's mandate to introduce and promote new technologies. Furthermore, Deputy Chairwoman Allanurova appears to have the confidence of President Berdimuhamedov, which helps her to move such initiatives forward. ¶9. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: The Supreme Council was very excited to receive word of the proposal's formal approval. It had reportedly submitted its approval several months ago, and had raised questions about its status with USAID staff in several recent meetings. It views this project as an opportunity to create a showcase information resource center in cooperation with the United States. END COMMENT. CURRAN