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StrategyHigher Education System in Turkmenistan
I. Structure of educational system
1. Kindergarten, primary and secondary education
A general secondary education system is comprised of kindergarten, primary and secondary Turkmen and Russian schools. There is also a network of Turkish schools. Children are to start education at the age of 6 or 7, depending on their psychological and physical condition. A general secondary education with a nine years period of studies is compulsory.
It is very important that starting from 1997 professional training had been introduced into secondary schools. Finishing their schools the young people will get different professions.
2. Special schools
The State is taking care of talented children. Special boarding schools are established for them. Children which are lagging behind in their mental development are trained at special schools where the State pays for their maintenance, training and upbringing.
3. Higher education
There are 16 higher education institutions in Turkmenistan with some 21000 students enrolled. Higher education institutions train students in economics, medicine, agriculture, jurisprudence, oil and gas engineering, transportation, communication, languages learning, art. Students are provided with scholarships, textbooks and training appliances. In addition to this there are several vocational training institutions. The private sector in education is non-existent. The country has a literacy rate of close to 100%.
Institutions of Higher Education currently by Presidential Decree are referred to as High Schools. The President of Turkmenistan announced that he is introducing a new order that now students of high schools (institutions) must spend 60% of their entire 4-5 years of education by working in the work places of their specialisation. Students can succeed better in getting practical knowledge at these places. Now the students have 2 years of theory, plus 2 years of practice.
Ministry of Education will supervise all the institutions of higher education but this function will soon be given to the Council of Higher Education and Science beginning from September. Ministry of Education will then take care of secondary schools.
Enterprises and organisations in state and private sectors must now receive students from the high schools only by sponsoring for the tuition of students to the high schools. Soon cost of tuition of one student will be determined. This system will start only from 2003 at the expense of state branches. If private enterprise would like to sponsor a student to the high school, then they will have to pay for their tuition beginning from September of 2003. If a person would like to enter the university or institute at his own request, then he will have to pay for himself.
The state patrons of the institutions of higher education of Turkmenistan, who will be responsible for the activities of the institutions of higher education, observation of rules and orders, responsible for admission of students and for their job placement after the graduation, were appointed. These state patrons are: President of Turkmenistan, Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers and all the Ministers of Turkmenistan.
Postgraduate education doesn’t exist. Postgraduate students continue their education at the Higher Institutions of the neighbouring countries, such as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and at the European Union’s Higher Institutions, Turkey, USA, China, Japan and so on.
II. International Cooperation
The neutral status of Turkmenistan opened wide opportunities for cooperation with foreign states in the educational sphere. Many thousand of young Turkmen citizens are being trained abroad. The State provides them with privileges to cover the educational expenses abroad”.
Moreover, all the Embassies that function in Turkmenistan (British, French, German, American, Turkish, Chinese, Indian…) send the best students for undergraduate and postgraduate training to their countries, where students receive training and obtain scholarships. Such programme like DAAD (Germany), ACCELS (American) operate well in Turkmenistan. Many students were trained successfully in USA and Europe and then upon their return to Turkmenistan they attained the best positions in state and private sectors, where they showed good educational background. They are considered as the most skilled and qualified experts in the labour market.
One of the main directions of the state education reform programme is preparation of the qualified specialists for all spheres of economy, the creation of the staff base, which is able to satisfy the state’s needs in the terms of the developing market relations.
III. The Tempus Projects
The European Union’s Tempus Tacis programme has been developing in Turkmenistan from 1996. The budget allocation for this period composes 1.8 mln EURO. Nine projects have been implemented during that period. All subjects that were developed by projects are very actually for Turkmenistan and correspond to it’s priorities. According to the draft version of the Indicative Programme for Turkmenistan 4,5 mln EURO will be allocated for the period of 2002-2004 . 1,5 mln EURO per year. Priorities that have been chosen for Turkmenistan are the following: Curriculum development in law, energy economics, environmental sciences, agriculture, European studies and international relations, energy studies, teacher training in modern European languages.
Training courses for Institution Building in the sectors of Justice and Law Enforcement, Public Finance and Tax Policy, Environmental Policy.
For multiplier projects environmental policy, agricultural policy, social work, tourism are foreseen.
In the previous experience of TEMPUS programme many lessons have been learned and the Institutions have become aware what is required for the future.
TEMPUS programme has become focal interlocutor for the Institutions and Educational Establishments in support of the developments towards internationalisation of standards and practices.