On 30 March, 2020, teachers in Turkmenistan’s schools were notified that the spring school holidays had been extended until 6 April, 2020.
A female teacher from an Ashgabat school told a correspondent of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” that supervising teachers were charged with the task of calling all students and informing parents that the schoolchildren will have an additional week of spring break.
The instructions came as a surprise for the teaching staff who had not been warned in advance that spring holidays might be extended and school would be closed down.
It is obvious that the decision was made in line with the measures undertaken by the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Turkmenistan.
It should be highlighted that due to the global pandemic of coronavirus COVID-19 Turkmenistan is imposing contradictory measures: on the one hand, the authorities claim there are no confirmed coronavirus cases in the country but on the other hand, movement has been restricted in some cities. Sports events have been cancelled and fitness clubs have been closed down but large-scale festive events are still underway and theatres are still open for the public.