Turkmenistan’s First 18 "Green" Schools Receive Official Environmental Sustainability Certificates
The "Green School" initiative—a joint effort by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and UNICEF—has concluded its first national phase. As a result, 18 educational institutions across Ashgabat, Arkadag, and all five of the country’s provinces (velayats) have been awarded official environmental sustainability certificates. This decision was reached during a meeting of the Certification Council at the UN office in Ashgabat, following a multi-stage audit that included school self-assessments, the compilation of portfolios, and on-site inspections by specialists.
Under a three-tier assessment system—where status is determined based on a 100-point scale—twelve educational institutions qualified for the first level of "certified eco-school." Six other pilot institutions reached the second tier, earning the status of a "green and sustainable school." Attaining the highest, third tier—marked by the awarding of a "Green Flag"—requires a two-year period of consistently meeting all established criteria; therefore, the first "leading" schools are expected to emerge in the country within two to three years.
The program, which began in 2025, has driven the modernization of school infrastructure to address climate-related challenges, the establishment of children’s eco-clubs, and the organization of practical competitions focused on disaster risk reduction.
UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan, Jalpa Ratna, and the national program coordinator, Sapargeldy Durdyyev, noted that the key objective for the next phase will be not only to implement expert recommendations—such as establishing waste-sorting systems and conducting evacuation drills—but also to integrate an environmental agenda into the daily curriculum, with active participation from parents and local communities.
