A good tradition has emerged of opening new educational institutions to mark the widely celebrated Knowledge Day and Student Youth Day in Turkmenistan.
Today, the new 2024-2025 academic year began with significant construction premieres both in the country and abroad.
A special place in this impressive list was occupied by the general secondary school named after Magtymguly, with a capacity of 540 places, in the Ergesh Sultanov farming association of the Dusti district, Khatlon Region, Republic of Tajikistan. The opening ceremony was attended via digital system by the heads of the two states – Presidents Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Emomali Rahmon.
The construction of this new educational institution was carried out in the friendly neighboring country by domestic builders in accordance with the decree signed by the head of state in December 2022.
As is known, this decision was made based on an agreement reached between the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. It was driven by the mutual interest of the parties in expanding centuries-old humanitarian ties, promoting the strengthening of the bonds of friendship and understanding between the two peoples, united by shared cultures, traditions, and spiritual and moral values.
It should be noted that the foundation stone of the general secondary school, which will proudly bear the name of the outstanding Turkmen classical poet and Eastern philosopher Magtymguly Pyragy, was laid on May 10, 2023, during the state visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the Republic of Tajikistan.
During the high-level bilateral talks held in Dushanbe at that time, the heads of state blessed the beginning of the construction of this socially significant facility via direct video connection. This project became another vivid testimony to Turkmenistan's and Tajikistan's commitment to further deepening and diversifying mutually beneficial partnership, considering the substantial potential and priorities of our countries' socio-economic development.
The cultural and humanitarian sphere, including its important component – education, has been and remains a key direction of traditional Turkmen-Tajik cooperation, built on a basis of mutual respect and trust. Today's significant event is a confirmation of this.
…The atmosphere at the ceremony was one of great celebration.
In front of the central entrance to the school, near the state flags of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, numerous guests gathered, including esteemed elders, members of the official delegations of the two countries, and representatives of the public.
After greeting and congratulating all participants and guests on the joyful event – the commissioning of the new general secondary school – the hosts, in Turkmen and Tajik languages, respectfully invited the heads of state to speak.
The first to speak was the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, who emphasized that he was sincerely pleased to join President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the ceremonial opening of the Magtymguly Pyragy Secondary School in the Dusti district of Khatlon Region, Tajikistan.
The President of the friendly country highlighted that the opening of this educational institution on Knowledge Day, widely celebrated in our countries, is a good omen.
Recalling that the modern school was built at the initiative of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the head of the friendly state took the opportunity to express heartfelt gratitude to Hero-Arkadag for the enormous work done and personal contribution to the development of Turkmen-Tajik cooperation, which has been elevated to a qualitatively new level thanks to the efforts of both sides.
As the Tajik leader said, the construction of the school, designed for 1080 children who will study in two shifts, began during the state visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Tajikistan in May of the previous year.
The President of Tajikistan noted with satisfaction that this socially significant project was completed in full in a relatively short time, thus providing the younger generation with a great opportunity to study in the new school equipped with advanced educational technologies and equipment.
Sincerely thanking the leadership of friendly Turkmenistan for support and comprehensive assistance in the quality completion of the construction work, President Emomali Rahmon stated that over the past three decades, our countries have achieved significant results in strengthening strategic partnership.
It was emphasized that interstate relations, which have strong traditions of friendship and mutual respect rooted in history, today cover many key areas of interaction.
It was also noted that an important place in the overall agenda of cooperation between the two countries is occupied by the issues of consistently enhancing cultural and humanitarian ties, particularly in the field of education and science.
Over the years, a necessary legal framework for relations between our countries in these areas has been formed. The parties pay constant attention to the practical implementation of the provisions of the adopted bilateral documents. A good foundation has been laid for expanding cooperation between research centers and universities.
– Every year, the governments of our countries allocate educational quotas for training youth in higher education institutions, and we are interested in further expanding cooperation in higher education, – said President Emomali Rahmon, emphasizing that the implementation of the Magtymguly school construction project is a vivid example of cooperation between our countries in this field.
It was noted that the special symbolism of this event is enhanced by the fact that the school opens its doors in the year of the anniversary of the famous Turkmen poet and educator Magtymguly, whose name it bears.
– The poetry of this great son of the Turkmen people, whose 300th anniversary is widely celebrated this year under the auspices of UNESCO, is imbued with such ideals of humanism as spiritual and moral beauty and love for children, – emphasized the head of Tajikistan, expressing confidence that this educational institution will soon take pride in its graduates – worthy citizens and patriots of their country.
Once again expressing heartfelt gratitude on behalf of all the residents of Khatlon Region of Tajikistan to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as well as to the builders for the implementation of this important project, President Emomali Rahmon stressed that the opening of the school in Tajikistan named after the great Turkmen educator is undoubtedly a vivid symbol of friendship and constructive relations between the fraternal countries.
Then, President of Turkmenistan addressed the numerous guests and participants of the ceremony from the screen.
Congratulating the President of Tajikistan, teachers, and students on the first day of the new academic year, the head of state noted that according to tradition, on September 1, widely celebrated in Turkmenistan as Knowledge Day and Student Youth Day, solemn events are held in our country, and new educational institutions are opened.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said that he was happy to participate via video conference with his brothers from Tajikistan in the ceremony of opening the Magtymguly Secondary School in the Ergesh Sultanov farming association of the Dusti district, Khatlon Region, Republic of Tajikistan, the construction of which began in May of the previous year during the state visit to the Republic of Tajikistan.
Built at the initiative of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Hero-Arkadag by Turkmen builders, the school is a symbol of friendship and brotherhood between the two countries.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov sincerely congratulated President Emomali Rahmon, teachers, and students, as well as all residents of the Ergesh Sultanov farming association on the opening of the new school.
As emphasized, the commissioning of the school in the year when Turkmenistan and far beyond its borders widely celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Turkmen poet and thinker of the East Magtymguly Pyragy has special significance.
Addressing the participants of the celebration, the head of state noted with satisfaction that Turkmen-Tajik cooperation, based on relationships of friendship and good-neighborliness, has recently been developing in new directions.
Emphasizing that the opening of the Magtymguly Secondary School is a historic event in the chronicle of interstate interaction in the field of education, the President of Turkmenistan expressed confidence that such events will contribute to the further development of bilateral humanitarian cooperation.
Taking the opportunity, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed sincere gratitude to President Emomali Rahmon for the constant attention to strengthening and expanding Turkmen-Tajik relations and, on behalf of Hero-Arkadag and the Turkmen people, once again warmly congratulated the head of the friendly state, as well as the teaching staff and students, on the opening of the new modern school, wishing everyone great success.
The floor was then given to the esteemed elders of the Dusti district, Khatlon Region, Republic of Tajikistan.
Representatives of the older generation emphasized that the new school, as a visible symbol of the unbreakable friendship between the two countries and their fraternal peoples, will proudly bear the name of the outstanding master of words and humanitarian of the East, Magtymguly Pyragy, whose 300th anniversary is widely celebrated this year not only in Turkmenistan but also around the world.
The speakers expressed deep gratitude to Presidents Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Emomali Rahmon for their online participation in the ceremony, extended sincere wishes for good health, longevity, and great success in noble deeds and initiatives, and requested to bless the ceremonial opening of the Magtymguly Secondary School.
With the blessing of the heads of state, and to the applause of those present, the heads of the official delegations of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Tajikistan cut the symbolic ribbon.
At that moment, the first school bell rang, announcing the beginning of the academic year and the "working life" of the modern educational institution.
It should be noted that the location for the school was chosen considering that Khatlon Region of the Republic of Tajikistan today houses one of the large Turkmen diasporas.
Ethnic Turkmens received the news of the opening of the new Magtymguly Pyragy School with great joy as a sign of the unbreakable spiritual connection with their historical homeland, which confidently follows the path of creation and progress and supports all compatriots living in different countries of the world by fate.
The school building, constructed by the Döwlet gurluşyk company, is an educational complex with a total area of over 4300 square meters. The construction was carried out in accordance with modern standards and fully funded by the Turkmen side.
The main building includes 24 spacious and well-lit classrooms, where all conditions for productive learning are created, as well as a library, a covered sports hall, a large assembly hall, a cafeteria, a medical office, and more.
Today has become an unforgettable celebration for all students, especially first graders.
In honor of this significant event, on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the charitable foundation for helping orphaned children named after Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov presented the new school with 100 Bilimli laptops and a Toyota Coaster bus.
The ceremony was decorated with musical performances by cultural figures from both countries.
Many warm and heartfelt words of gratitude for the magnificent gift to the students and their teachers were addressed to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and National Leader of the Turkmen people Hero-Arkadag, who laid the foundations of a policy of peace, good-neighborliness, and friendly relations with all interested countries, primarily regional neighbors, as well as strengthening traditional ties with compatriots abroad, preserving national unity, and promoting its rich culture.
Numerous ethnic Turkmens living in all corners of the globe are happy to feel their connection to the grand transformations occurring on the ancient land of their ancestors, where in the era of Renaissance of the new epoch of the powerful state, dreams and ideals celebrated by the globally recognized poet of the Turkmen soul Magtymguly Pyragy find real embodiment.
Numerous bouquets of flowers were laid at the monument to this outstanding master of words installed at the school, whose creativity continues to spiritually unite Turkmens around the world centuries later.
There is no doubt that the new general secondary educational institution will become a modern center for educating children from the Turkmen diaspora and their spiritual and moral development in the best national traditions.
Thus, another remarkable chapter has been opened in the history of traditional Turkmen-Tajik cultural and humanitarian relations, which represent an integral and important part of the multifaceted interstate dialogue, which, in a new historical era, has been elevated to the status of strategic partnership thanks to the efforts of the parties.
May Turkmen-Tajik friendship and brotherhood always prosper!
Source: TDH
