VZCZCXRO0323
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #1384/01 2951017
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211017Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1740
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2989
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001384 
 
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: USAID/IREX OPENS EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER 
AT SUPREME COUNCIL 
 
REF: A. ASHGABAT 710 
 ¶B. ASHGABAT 1227 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2.  (U) SUMMARY: On October 15, USAID and the International Research 
and Exchanges Board (IREX) formally opened a Center for Interactive 
Multimedia Learning at Turkmenistan's Supreme Council on Science and 
Technology (SCST).  The center will help prepare educators and 
specialists to use computer technologies and the Internet in the 
classroom, furthering their professional development.  The new 
center is one of five in Turkmenistan that are administered by IREX 
under the USAID-funded Internet Access and Training Program (IATP). 
The Deputy Chairwoman of the Supreme Council stressed in her remarks 
that she sees the center's opening as "only the beginning" of 
possible expanded cooperation with this influential entity, which 
has been tasked by President Berdimuhamedov with implementing 
important parts of his plans to introduce international standards 
across the education, science, and research sectors.  END SUMMARY. 
 
CENTER SUPPORTS KEY PRESIDENTIAL PRIORITIES 
 
¶3.  (U) Education and technology development are priorities for the 
Government of Turkmenistan, which has called for computers and 
Internet to be available in every school across the country.  The 
IATP program, which has been operating in Turkmenistan since 2000, 
provides technical assistance in integrating information and 
communications technologies into education and also provides civil 
society organizations and community leaders with tools that are 
otherwise either largely inaccessible or under-utilized.  The 
program trains over 100 Turkmen citizens per month.  Its network of 
multimedia learning centers has already provided computer and 
internet services to over 15,000 in Ashgabat, Turkmenabat, Dashoguz, 
and Balkanabat. 
 
¶4.  (U) The new multimedia learning center is equipped with nine 
computers connected to the high-speed Internet through the Virtual 
Silk Highway network, as well as cutting-edge educational 
technologies like an interactive blackboard.  USAID/IREX specialists 
will train the Supreme Council members and staff, as well as Turkmen 
educators at all levels, to use computer-based technologies and 
interactive, student-centered methods in the classroom.  Trainees 
will have the opportunity to create digital lessons, join online 
discussions, and learn how to connect students with their peers in 
other countries over the Internet. 
 
¶5.  (U) As a next step, after approximately one year of cooperation, 
the project will organize a conference for educators and professors 
from selected regional educational departments, universities, 
institutes, and secondary schools.  This conference will demonstrate 
to educators and others the results of the project's center, and 
participants will learn about the opportunities available through 
the project.  Over time, IREX will establish relationships with 
additional stakeholders to expand during a possible second phase by 
establishing pilot centers in one to two provincial cities. 
 
¶6.  (U) COMMENT: President Berdimuhamedov has repeatedly stressed 
the development of education, science and technologies, and has 
ordered large purchases of computers for schools across 
Turkmenistan.  The Internet plays a growing role in the education 
process, but to maximize this opportunity, educators must also be 
comfortable with the latest interactive methods and technologies in 
the classroom.  This center will help spread these modern approaches 
to teaching professionals. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: The Supreme Council has been very 
receptive to expanded cooperation with USAID and other USG entities. 
 Although its Deputy Chairwoman and key SCST 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 within existing limitations by exercising the 
Supreme Council's mandate to introduce and promote new technologies. 
 USAID plans to build on this opportunity by working with the 
Supreme Council in its efforts to introduce International Financial 
Reporting Standards in the curriculum of Turkmenistan's higher 
education institutions. (Reftel B) END COMMENT. 
 
ASHGABAT 00001384  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
CURRAN