How Much Does a Child’s Right to Education Cost in Turkmenistan?

How Much Does a Child’s Right to Education Cost in Turkmenistan? As the new school year approaches, September 1 is becoming not a celebration but a serious financial burden for many families in Turkmenistan. On social media, parents say that the real cost of preparing one child for school can reach thousands of manats. School uniforms, shoes, backpacks, stationery, and sportswear all place a heavy burden on family budgets. Parents also report additional collections of money in schools and kindergartens for repairs, curtains, cleaning supplies, and other needs. The situation is particularly difficult for large and low-income families, as well as families affected by disability. One of the most distressing testimonies was a video of a mother with a disability who, in tears, asked for help because she could not afford to prepare her children for school. And all of this is happening in a country with enormous natural gas reserves and other significant resources. State support for families with children remains extremely limited. Childcare benefits are provided only during the first years of a child’s life, and the amounts are extremely small compared with the actual cost of living. Yet when a child turns three, their need for food, clothing, shoes, healthcare, and opportunities for development does not disappear. Kindergarten and school follow, bringing even more expenses. This raises a fundamental question: If children truly are the future of Turkmenistan, why are families being left to struggle alone to provide the most basic necessities for that future? Education must not become a privilege available only to those who can afford it. A hungry child, or a child without proper clothing or essential school supplies, cannot study on equal terms with other children. Children’s access to recreation and extracurricular activities is another important issue. Sports, swimming pools, excursions, hiking, cultural activities, and high-quality summer programmes should be part of a normal childhood, regardless of a family’s income or where a child lives. Turkmenistan needs a genuine and transparent support system for low-income and large families, children with disabilities, and parents with disabilities. Children in need should be provided with school uniforms and essential educational supplies. Social support for families with children should be expanded, while allegations of compulsory collections of money and corruption in educational institutions should be independently and effectively investigated. Children are not only the future. They are living today. Today, they need food, clothing, education, opportunities to develop, and a dignified childhood. In our video, we examine parents’ real experiences, the actual cost of preparing children for school, problems with social support, and the questions that the state must answer. 🎥 Watch the full video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/RZ5egqalc3Q?is=QWb3HTtJYDKN84Vw