On March 25, 2026, Turkmenistan’s Minister of Education, Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev, participated in a series of high-level meetings and events at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, centered around the launch of the Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM Report 2026). The visit produced several significant developments in Turkmenistan’s international educational cooperation, as reported by TDH.
During the forum, the Minister spoke at the High-Level Ministerial Dialogue, where he highlighted that early childhood education in Turkmenistan is viewed as a strategic foundation for human capital development and sustainable societal progress.
He outlined key national priorities, including the integration of digital technologies, the fostering of children’s creative and cognitive abilities, and the continuous improvement of teacher training and professional development. The Minister also presented updates on joint initiatives with UNICEF, notably the launch of a pilot program to prepare children for school, which will introduce half-day groups for five-year-olds beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.
On the sidelines of the event, Minister Gurbangeldiyev met with UNESCO Director-General Khaled Al-Anani. The Turkmen side outlined key areas of state education policy, including deepening cooperation with UNESCO, participation in the UNITWIN program, expanding international academic collaboration, and strengthening the institutional framework of the national education system.
Discussions also focused on ensuring equal access to quality education, the digital transformation of educational systems, and the integration of AI technologies into the educational process.
In this context, the parties explored prospects for opening a new UNESCO Chair in Digital Science and expanding cooperation with the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education. Director-General Al-Anani commended Turkmenistan for the systemic and forward-looking nature of its reforms and praised the country’s active contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4.
A separate meeting was held with UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Stefania Giannini, where the parties discussed promising areas of cooperation, including the digitalization of education, the development of lifelong learning, and the responsible use of modern technologies.
The meeting also highlighted Turkmenistan’s participation in established UNESCO programs, including UNESCO Chairs and Associated Schools, and the involvement of the country’s universities in international academic networks. Ashgabat’s membership in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, which the city joined in 2025, received particular attention. Giannini praised the consistent and comprehensive nature of Turkmenistan’s educational reforms, highlighting achievements in inclusive education, modernization, and expanded international cooperation. She also noted the country’s active steps toward acceding to UNESCO’s international conventions as a demonstration of its commitment to international standards.
On the margins of the same events, Minister Gurbangeldiyev also met with Uzbekistan’s Minister of Preschool and School Education, Ezozhon Karimova.
The two sides discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation, with a focus on preschool and general secondary education, the exchange of best practices in teacher training, and the implementation of modern educational methods. They also underscored the importance of expanding collaboration in international Olympiads and developing direct contacts between educational institutions of both countries.
Following all the meetings, the parties confirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening partnerships and expanding practical cooperation across education, science, and innovation. /// nCa, 27 March 2026