Turkmen Delegation Strengthens Educational Ties with the United States

Washington, D.C., The Gulf Observer: A high-level Turkmen delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Education Azat Atayev, held a series of productive meetings in Washington, D.C., focusing on enhancing bilateral educational cooperation between Turkmenistan and the United States. Key discussions centered on standardization in testing and certification, with an emphasis on internationally recognized assessments such as TOEFL, GRE, and Praxis.

The delegation’s primary objective was to bolster existing educational ties based on previous agreements between the two nations. During a significant meeting at the U.S. State Department, officials deliberated on creating a comprehensive framework for academic assessments and university accreditation, aimed at modernizing Turkmenistan’s education system. Representing the U.S. were Tammy Palchikov, Deputy Director of the Office of Press and Public Diplomacy for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, alongside members of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the U.S. Department of Education.

The discussions included key topics such as student performance evaluation methods and strategies for international accreditation, with both sides recognizing the importance of upgrading Turkmenistan’s educational infrastructure. Additionally, the possibility of organizing specialized workshops for administrators and teachers was explored to promote best practices in academic administration.

A separate meeting took place with Shannon Litton, Director of Government and External Relations at the Educational Testing Service (ETS), where the delegation discussed the establishment of certified testing centers in Turkmenistan to facilitate standardized testing within the country.

The delegation also engaged with Ángeles Chávez, CEO of AC Languages, and Dr. Elias Alonzo, Executive Director of the U.S.-Turkmenistan Business Council, to discuss expanding language education programs and fostering new partnerships in this field.

All meetings were held in a constructive and friendly atmosphere, demonstrating a shared commitment to further enhancing educational cooperation and advancing Turkmenistan’s education system.