In late August 2020 a spontaneous protest was organized by parents at Ashgabat school №64 because of the closure of classes using Russian as the language of instruction.
Prior to the start of the academic year the school administration had warned the families of students that because classes were overcrowded, accommodating up to 50 students, the school failed to fulfill the requirement of the Education Ministry on dividing classes and increasing the number of shifts as a COVID-19 prevention measure.
All students had been admitted to a popular school, without taking into account the сapacity.
Following the protest, inspections were carried out in Ashgabat schools, which revealed that children of many high-ranking officials and law enforcement officers study at schools considered to be the best, especially those which have classes with Russian as the language of instruction.
Parents were requested to transfer their children into ordinary secondary schools based on their place of residence.
However, the corrupt practice of students’ placement in schools still persists. A year later children of officials returned to the same “elite” schools, correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report.
For instance, several children of e Interior Ministry officials returned from school №15 in the 30th residential district to school №32.
According to teachers, it is more profitable for school principals to have officials’ children among students because the former receive placement fees and gifts during the course of study.
At the same time, such children who are usually overindulged and spoilt often cause problems because of their bad manners and disregard of rules.
For instance, residents of multi-storey apartments located near secondary school №15 in the city of Mary, have repeatedly complained to the principal about their students’ behavior.
Groups of senior graders boys and girls drinking beer regularly gather in hallways or between the apartment blocks. They respond to the residents’ complaints with threats and abusive comments.
After receiving another complaint, the principal or teachers advise residents to talk to the students’ parents.
— Do you know who the father is?! the principal usually asks Go and talk to him.
Teachers ask these kids to bring them cigarettes or naswar. For a pack of the cheapest cigarettes or a pack of naswar they allow them to skip classes or give good grades.
Parents of wealthy children can also obtain a health certificate for a fee of 40 manats, which exempts them from classes for 3 to 4 days. With these certificates groups of youngsters skip classes walking around the city or visiting cafes which are officially closed for quarantine.
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