VZCZCXRO5964
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #1175/01 2490745
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050745Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1493
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2071
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1936
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4259
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 2507
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2853
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001175 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, SCA/PPD, ECA 
AID/W FOR EE/EA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID SCUL KPAO TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN: DAS KROL MEETING WITH EDUCATION LEADERSHIP 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY: In a pleasant, introductory meeting with Deputy 
Assistant Secretary George Krol, Turkmenistan's Deputy Chairman of 
the Cabinet of Ministers for Education, Health, Science, Sports, and 
Tourism Hydyr Saparlyev described educational reforms and the 
construction of new schools.  He said there is now Internet access 
in some schools, but this needs to be extended to all schools.  He 
praised exchange programs such as the U.S. FLEX program.  He also 
spoke positively about possible university partnerships with 
Columbia University, Texas A&M, or others.  The meeting served as a 
useful overview of official Turkmen views on developments in these 
areas.  END SUMMARY. 
 
OVERVIEW OF EDUCATION 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Deputy Assistant Secretary George Krol met September 3 
with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Education, 
Health, Science, Sports and Tourism Hydyr Saparlyev as well as 
Education Minister Muhammetgeldi Annaamanov to discuss education in 
Turkmenistan.  Deputy Chairman Saparlyev led the discussion and 
provided broad and positive overviews of progress in education.  He 
said one of President Berdimuhamedov's main goals is to provide a 
quality education for all students.  Education is free to all. 
(COMMENT: While education is "free," the practice of paying bribes 
for admission is widely known.  END COMMENT.)  Saparlyev noted the 
construction of 40 new schools, including many with great sports 
facilities.  Children now have the opportunity to study almost any 
sport from first until 10th grade. Some schools even have swimming 
pools.  The new schools are outfitted with health units in case 
students fall ill.  Students also learn basic hygiene and health 
principles.  He said many more new schools needed to be built.  He 
noted Internet access was being made available in some schools, but 
that access also needed to be extended.  Saparlyev said that there 
are distance learning programs.  Teachers are effectively using 
technology in all the provinces. Saparlyev also described briefly 
new money ($45 million) to be spent on science labs for schools. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Saparlyev mentioned the importance of exchanges and study 
abroad for Turkmen students, including the U.S. FLEX program.  He 
spoke positively about possible university partnerships with 
Columbia University, Texas A&M, or others.  He also said that the 
government completely funds some students' study abroad.  In 
addition to room, board, books and tuition, the government provides 
a clothing allowance and a stipend and covers travel costs. Students 
study Korean, Japanese, and other languages to prepare. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Pointing to the decision this year to resume post-graduate 
education, Saparlyev said that talented young people who want to get 
Masters and Doctoral degrees are now able to do so.  Three years of 
post-graduate study is needed to get a Masters degree.  A further 
three years of study will lead to a doctorate.  Saparlyev also noted 
the new specialties that are now available for undergraduates to 
major in. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Regarding USAID's Quality Learning Program, Saparlyev said 
they were studying the proposal.  He said that teachers already 
receive training in teaching methodology.  In fact, there is 
specific methodological training in each subject.  He said that it 
was under consideration and that Turkmenistan needs to use the best 
elements of experience from many countries and use elements that 
suit local conditions. 
 
HEALTH 
 
¶7.  (SBU) When asked about progress in the health sector, Saparlyev 
pointed to the construction of new medical centers all across the 
country and in each district.  When asked about the capacity of the 
government to provide doctors and specialists for all of these new 
locations, Saparlyev said that the appropriate experts were being 
prepared.  He said it is the policy of the president to provide 
free, quality healthcare to all.  (COMMENT:  The reality is that to 
receive quality healthcare and medicine, one has to pay.  END 
 
ASHGABAT 00001175  002 OF 002 
 
 
COMMENT.) 
 
SUMMER CAMPS 
 
¶8. (SBU) Saparlyev said the government has built six children's 
summer camps and ten more are planned for next year.  For a fixed 
monthly price, children can enjoy fresh air and various sports and 
craft activities during the thre-month long summer holiday. 
 
¶9. (SBU) COMMENT:  While some changes, such as the reintroduction of 
graduate study and the reestablishment of the Supreme Council on 
Science and Technology, are important steps, educational reform in 
Turkmenistan has a long way to go.  Many real challenges remain such 
as bribes for entry to schools, lack of materials or teacher 
training, or the lack of expertise and quality in the healthcare 
sector.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶10.  (U) DAS Krol has cleared this cable. 
 
CURRAN