New Steps Mark Continued Progress in Inclusive Education

Ashgabat, 8 August 2026 – The Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, with technical support from UNICEF, continues to strengthen and advance inclusive education to ensure that every child, including children with disabilities and developmental needs, can learn in a supportive and accessible environment. As part of these efforts, a week-long technical mission was conducted by Ms. Filomena Pereira from Portugal, an international expert in inclusive education, to support national partners in reviewing progress and identifying the next steps for expanding inclusive practices across the education system.

Held from 3 to 8 August 2026, the mission brought together representatives of the Ministry of Education, regional education authorities, teachers, teacher trainers, multidisciplinary teams, medical-pedagogical commissions, higher education institutions and other partners. Through consultations, site visits and practical discussions, participants reviewed the work already undertaken by the Ministry of Education and agreed on ways to further strengthen learning opportunities for children with diverse needs.

The mission highlighted the Ministry of Education’s continued commitment to building a more inclusive education system through stronger coordination, improved teacher preparation and better support for schools and preschools. Discussions focused on strengthening the capacity of education professionals, improving approaches to identifying and responding to children’s individual learning needs, and enhancing mentoring and training systems to support the sustainable development of inclusive education.

As part of the mission, representatives of the Ministry of Education and UNICEF visited pilot preschool and school facilities in Ahal and Balkan velayats. The visits provided an opportunity to observe inclusive education approaches in practice and hear directly from teachers, school leaders, regional coordinators and multidisciplinary teams about the progress made, remaining challenges and practical support needed to help every child participate meaningfully in learning.

UNICEF will continue to support the Ministry of Education through technical expertise, capacity development and evidence-based guidance as Turkmenistan advances inclusive education. The recommendations developed during the mission will help guide the next stage of work, including strengthening teacher preparation, improving monitoring and sharing lessons learned from pilot facilities to support wider implementation. These joint efforts reflect the Ministry’s leadership and UNICEF’s commitment to ensuring that every child can learn, participate and reach their full potential.