VZCZCXRO9502
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0900/01 1990743
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170743Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1170
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4029
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1846
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1713
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2282
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2693
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUETIAA/NSA FORT MEADE MD
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000900 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, EUR/ACE, DRL 
 
AID/W FOR EE/EA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EAID KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: PLANS TO COOPERATE WITH MINISTRY OF EDUCATION 
ON QUALITY LEARNING PROJECT 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY: The USAID-funded Quality Learning Project (QLP) 
started in October 2007, with implementing partners Creative 
Associates International, Inc. and Abt Associates.  The goal of the 
project is to improve student education in Turkmenistan through 
expanding new interactive teaching and student assessment methods to 
primary and secondary schools.  To initiate project implementation 
and cooperation, USAID held a series of meetings with the Ministry 
of Education (MOE).  In the past, the Ministry has communicated to 
donors that educators in Turkmenistan are already familiar with 
progressive teaching methods from the Soviet period, and that there 
is no need for new approaches.  However, this view seems to be 
shifting, and a USAID-sponsored three-day training program in July 
played a positive role in helping the Ministry see the benefits of 
progressive education methods.  END SUMMARY. 
 
CURRENT SITUATION IN EDUCATION: 
 
¶3. (U) Almost all schools in Turkmenistan use traditional teaching 
methods which have only limited impact on student learning. Most 
rural schools are not even familiar with interactive teaching.  Only 
after MOE required implementation of such methods in Ashgabat's 
School Number 27 did authorities start taking limited action. 
However, the Ministry has not acquired materials and tools needed to 
disseminate new methods throughout the country and remains reluctant 
to adopt and promote new methods.  This presents a significant 
challenge to USAID to persuade the MOE to cooperate. 
 
SUMMARY OF USAID ACTION PLAN: 
 
¶4. (U) To persuade Turkmen education authorities about the relevance 
of QLP in secondary schools, USAID took the following steps: 
-- conveyed a proposal to the MOE on June 7, 2008, which offers 
activities to support Turkmenistan's participation in the "Trends in 
International Mathematics and Science Study" (TIMMS) project and 
introduces innovative approaches in secondary school teaching. 
-- facilitated a three-day seminar on July 1-3, 2008, led by Dr. 
Damir Safin, an education consultant with Creative Associate 
International.  The seminar -- for specialists and educators of the 
Ministry of Education, the National Institute of Education, the 
Supreme Council on Science and Technology under the President of 
Turkmenistan, and UNICEF -- introduced innovative approaches in 
teaching and solicited participant feedback.  Thirty of the 
participants indicated in feedback that they are looking forward to 
implementing lessons of the seminar country wide. 
-- met with Gulshat Mammedova, first Deputy Minister of Education, 
Bayram Bashimov, a director of the National Institute of Education, 
and Mr. Nury Bayramov, a chair of the International Department of 
the Ministry of Education on July 7, 2008,to discuss cooperation 
proposed the month before.  Mr. William Frej, USAID Regional Mission 
Director, led the meeting. 
 
MEETING ON JULY 7, 2008 
 
¶5. (U) USAID requested MOE's approval to start joint implementation 
of QLP with the National Institute of Education or with another 
institution or school that the MOE recommends. USAID offered to 
cover all local and international expenses necessary to initiate the 
Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMMS) program. 
Immediately after reaching agreement, USAID would bring an expert 
from a TIMMS team to discuss further activities, as countries that 
intend to participate in the 2011 project must commit by this fall. 
Finally, USAID proposed an MOU with MOE. 
 
¶6. (U) Director of Turkmenistan's National Institute of Education, 
Bayram Bashimov, gave a briefing on the state of education in 
Turkmenistan.  He noted that Dr. Safin's training on innovative 
teaching methods energized participants' knowledge.  And despite 
being familiar with similar methods from the Soviet period, he 
 
ASHGABAT 00000900  002 OF 002 
 
 
offered that this new training was beneficial.  Based on the 
experience of Ashgabat's School Number 27, the Turkmen officials 
agreed to let USAID staff prepare an MOU that can be jointly amended 
and/or changed. 
 
¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: Although Turkmen education officials seem 
conservative in their views, the meeting on July 7 was productive. 
The deputy minister offered to consider an agreement prepared by 
USAID staff on strengthening cooperation with the Ministry of 
Education.  The MOU will be given to the Ministry of Education only 
after USAID/CAR Legal Advisor's approval.  END COMMENT. 
 
CURRAN