OREANDA-NEWS. March 25, 2010. The two-day expert workshop organized by the European Training Foundation (ETF) of the European Commission in cooperation with the EU Project Europa House in Turkmenistan and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan was devoted to improvement and development of the national education system. The forum brought together the leading experts of the relevant ministries and departments, the teachers of the vocational educational institutions and the representatives of the Union of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan in the President Hotel in the Turkmen capital.

As is known, the key priorities of the progressive policy of reforms pursued by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in all spheres of life of the Turkmen state and society included cooperation with the international organisations that had accumulated the considerable experience in implementing joint projects. These included the ETF project on vocational education and training, which would be launched later this year.

The participants considered the issues related to international education indicators, their relevance, comparability and accuracy and the possible ways to adopt them in Turkmenistan. The participants were briefed on the methods of using various indicators and compiling them through the analysis. The focus of discussion was the quality and access to primary education as the basis of the educational process including vocational qualifications.

In this regard the participants underscored the considerable importance and significance of the comprehensive reform of the national education system initiated by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to create the conditions conducive to fruitful work of teachers and scientists and adopt widely advanced teaching methods and learning technologies in the country.