At UNESCO headquarters in Paris on March 25, 2026, Turkmenistan’s Minister of Education, Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev, took part in events dedicated to the presentation of the Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM Report 2026) and held a series of bilateral meetings. During the forum, the head of the education ministry spoke at the High-Level Ministerial Dialogue, noting that early childhood education in Turkmenistan is viewed as a strategic foundation for human capital development and sustainable societal progress. The Minister provided information on joint initiatives with UNICEF, including the launch of a pilot school readiness program that will introduce half-day groups for five-year-old children starting from the 2026–2027 academic year. The importance of developing inclusive education, early identification of children’s developmental characteristics, and strengthening cooperation among educational institutions, families, and government bodies was also emphasized. On the sidelines of the event, the Minister of Education of Turkmenistan met with UNESCO Director-General Khaled Al-Anani and UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini. During the discussions, Turkmenistan’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation with UNESCO as a key area of international partnership was reaffirmed. Additionally, a meeting was held with the Minister of Preschool and General Secondary Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, E’zozkhon Karimova. The parties discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation, focusing particularly on the development of preschool and general secondary education, exchange of best practices in teacher training, and the implementation of modern educational methodologies. Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan