On 1 September, the ‘Jahan Bilimli Çagalar Dünýäsi’ international preparatory school for children aged 4 to 6 was officially opened in Ashgabat. The school’s educational programme is based on modern international standards, according to the news website Turkmenportal.

The ceremony was attended by the school’s headteacher, M. Kakabayeva, and Steve King, Head of the ‘Partnership in Education’ division (covering Europe, Central Asia and the Americas) at the University of Cambridge’s Press & Assessment organisation.

One of the school’s key focuses is teaching in English. Lessons are delivered by native-speaking teachers with international experience, working in accordance with the Early Education Pathway standards.

The programme includes play-based and practical activities, as well as creative and research projects. It is designed to develop children’s independence, critical thinking and creative abilities, whilst taking into account the national traditions of Turkmenistan.