Turkmen children will attend school for 12 years during "era of might and happiness"
ASHGABAT. March 3 (Interfax) - Turkmenistan will introduce 12-year secondary education starting with the 2013-2014 academic year.
A decree of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow published in the national press on Saturday says the decision was made "with the purpose of further advancing the system of education in the era of might and happiness, training highly-educated talented personalities with a broad world outlook, and achieving the highest results in preparing experts skilled in modern innovative technologies."
Presenting the draft structure of 12-year schooling at a Cabinet session broadcast on local television Turkmen Education Minister Gulshat Mamedova said that children will go to school at the age of six. Primary education will last for four years. Then there will be six years of basic secondary education after which young people will be given a general secondary education for two years when they will have a choice of fields.
In turn Berdimuhamedow said that Turkmenistan has created all the conditions for young people to receive world-class education and institutions and industries to employ highly skilled personnel.
"The state will continue paying much attention to the advancement of education, creating all conditions for proper education of young people, the fruitful work of instructors and further improvement of their living standards," the president said stressing the topicality of all-round study and broad introduction of advanced world experience in national education.
Berdimuhamedow started modifying the educational system after becoming president in 2007 when he named it among the country's priorities. Ten-year schooling was restored - under President Saparmurat Niyazov young people studied for nine years. Physical culture was restored as a school subject. The state introduced quotas for studying aboard for students and graduates got a chance to continue their education at graduate schools and courses.