KAZAKHSTAN: THE ABC'S OF SUCCESSS: U.S. SCIENCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002107

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, OES/PCI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SENV KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: THE ABC'S OF SUCCESSS: U.S. SCIENCE
EDUCATION COMPANY FORGES A PROFITABLE AND PRODUCTIVE ALLIANCE WITH
THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

REF: A. ASTANA 1696

B. ASTANA 2026

ASTANA 00002107 001.3 OF 002



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


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: U.S. Company PASCO Scientific has sold
laboratory equipment and curriculum to 1700 schools in Kazakhstan to
teach students how to gather and analyze data and do modern science.
PASCO is working closely with the Kazakhstani Ministry of Education
and Science to modernize science education in order to promote
economic development. Its next step is to improve education in
Kazakhstan's 4300 rural schools. PASCO sees an enormous opportunity
in Kazakhstan, because schools have only received a bare minimum of
laboratory equipment, leaving a considerable need. PASCO has had no
problem obtaining access to teachers and schools or issues with
payment for completed contracts. END SUMMARY.

PASCO


3. (SBU) In a December 1 meeting, U.S. Company PASCO Scientific
representatives Wayne Grant and Kevin Mather told the Charge that
PASCO has 60 active partners and does business in more than 100
countries. Headquartered in California, PASCO is a
scientific-education company that sells traditional physics
laboratory equipment to schools and laboratories, including a small
hand-held device (called Spark) that collects data samples, displays
them graphically, and analyses them. It also works with schools to
supply curricula and training programs in modern data gathering,
sampling, and scientific techniques. PASCO also provides
teacher-development training seminars and technical support.
Working with its Kazakhstani partner Nurecom, a contractor to
Interactiv, PASCO has supplied basic laboratory equipment to more
than 1700 schools in Kazakhstan in the past three years (mostly in
urban centers). According to Mather, Nurecom Director Nuraly
Kudaibergenuly has very close ties to current Minister of Education
Zhanseit Tuimebayev, which gives PASCO a very high level of
"engagement" and support in Kazakhstan. Accordingly, PASCO is
working closely with the Kazakhstani Ministry of Education and
Science to modernize science education to promote economic
development.


4. (SBU) Mather said that with the ministry's strong support, PASCO
now is focused on improving scientific education in Kazakhstan's
4300 rural schools. He highlighted the impact of Kazakhstan's
current shortage of 8,000 rural school teachers, including its
ability to provide an adequate number of trained technicians for the
oil and gas industry. PASCO told the Charge that it can provide a
complete support structure for scientific education to schools,
including equipment, curriculum, and documents in Russian (and
eventually Kazakh) to develop "local content" (e.g., locally hired
technicians) and train local teachers. Grant added that PASCO does
not teach scientific methods practiced 20 years ago, but rather
those for the coming decade. He quoted hockey star Wayne Gretzky,
saying science education should "skate to where the puck is going to
be."

ENORMOUS PROFIT OPPORTUNITY


5. (SBU) Mather highlighted PASCO's enormous commercial opportunity
in Kazakhstan given that 1700 schools have only the bare minimum of
laboratory equipment. PASCO touted its Russian and Kazakh language
software packages and curriculum that can develop higher-order
thinking, critical thinking, and raise the level of science
education in Kazakhstan. In addition, teachers can participate in
on-line classes and training programs with simultaneous translation
as part of their ongoing education. PASCO asserted that its
curriculum enables the large number of inadequately-trained teachers
to present scientific information in a way that does not embarrass
them.

NO PROBLEM WITH PAYMENT

ASTANA 00002107 002.3 OF 002




6. (SBU) Mathers said PASCO thus far has had no problem with
payment. He called Kazakhstan's banking system surprisingly
efficient -- in spite of the financial crisis. PASCO explained that
it receives a 50% cash advance for goods and services and the
remaining 50% 60 days after contract completion. PASCO has
experienced no troubles with payment flows or repatriation of its
profits.


7. (SBU) COMMENT: It is not only helpful, but refreshing to
encounter a medium-sized ($45 million in annual, global sales) U.S.
company that visibly, and by its own admission, is doing extremely
well in Kazakhstan. Its mission, to promote better science
education, coincides with Kazakhstan's recently-established science
priorities (ref A) designed to further promote economic development.
The Charge's recent trip to Atyrau (ref B) also highlights the need
(and problem) of the oil industry to hire locals because of the
severe shortage of adequately-trained local technicians. PASCO is
aware of the issue and wants to help. Mathers may soon hire a local
representative because of its success and growth in the Kazakhstani
market. PASCO's business goals coincide perfectly with Kazakhstan's
education objectives and all parties seems to agree there's much
more room for business and cooperation - a great success story. END
COMMENT.

SPRATLEN