Turkmenistan will be reviewed under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in 2025. The government has submitted its report. One of the central issues to be examined during this review is the right to education. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education in Turkmenistan is drafting a new Strategy for the Development of Higher Education for 2026–2052, aimed at modernizing the educational system. However, this draft remains unavailable to the public, and it is unclear if the Ministry intends to consult stakeholders in an inclusive process.
Higher education in Turkmenistan is experiencing systemic challenges. Turkmenistan has the opportunity and potential to shape a higher education strategy that aligns with international standards and fosters equitable access and quality education for all. The government should act now with reforms and modernization to catch up with the educational outcomes in the region.
It is fundamental that the strategy development process is transparent and inclusive. Incorporating input from educators, students, employers, and the wider public is crucial to ensuring the strategy reflects diverse needs. Additionally, the strategy should address concerns and implement recommendations raised by the CESCR and the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Turkmenistan which are summarized below:
Corruption in Education
- Concerns: Corruption in higher education persists, with unofficial fees for admission, resource misuse, and inadequate prosecution of corruption cases. Transparency International ranks Turkmenistan among the worst in the Central Asia region for corruption, with authoritarian elites using corruption to entrench power, evade accountability, and undermine governance, civic rights, and political freedoms.
- Recommendations: Enforce anti-corruption laws, establish safe and accessible reporting mechanisms, investigate allegations thoroughly, impose penalties on offenders, and safeguard whistleblowers from reprisals.
Barriers to Higher Education Access and Employment
- Concerns: Students face restrictions on studying abroad, non-recognition of foreign diplomas, discrimination against graduates with foreign degrees in public sector employment, and arbitrary fees that limit access to higher education.
- Recommendations: Remove bans on studying abroad, recognize foreign diplomas, ensure equal employment opportunities for graduates, and eliminate illegal fees for higher education.
Education for Ethnic Minorities
- Concerns: Ethnic minorities encounter obstacles to education in their native languages due to a lack of teachers and teaching materials.
- Recommendations: Promote multilingual education programs and develop resources to support instruction in minority languages.
Internet Access for Education
- Concerns: Limited and slow Internet access, especially in rural areas, hinders educational opportunities and access to information.
- Recommendations: Expand Internet infrastructure in rural areas and ensure marginalized groups have access to online resources to enhance learning opportunities.
Advancing Gender Equality in Education
- Concerns: Girls and other vulnerable groups face limited access to education, compounded by persistent gender stereotypes in school curricula, a lack of comprehensive public education programs promoting gender equality, and insufficient teacher training to address gender biases.
- Recommendations: Enhance public education programs to promote gender equality, eliminate discriminatory stereotypes from school textbooks, and provide comprehensive gender-sensitivity training for teachers. Ensure equitable access to education for girls and vulnerable groups, fostering a gender-inclusive and non-discriminatory education system.
By addressing these systemic challenges and embracing an inclusive approach, Turkmenistan has the opportunity to shape a higher education strategy that aligns with international standards and fosters equitable access and quality education for all. In doing so, Turkmenistan will fulfill its obligations under international conventions on the right to education.
