A new complex of buildings of the Seyitnazar Seydi Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute was ceremonially opened in Turkmenabat on the Day of Knowledge and Student Youth, celebrated in the year proclaimed “Independent Neutral Turkmenistan – the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses”. It is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the country, training teachers and specialists for the education system.
The new complex, equipped with modern facilities and advanced technologies from leading foreign companies, has become a wonderful gift for the institute’s teaching staff and students. The campus, covering an area of approximately 26 hectares, was built on the basis of a harmonious combination of global architectural practices and the traditions of national architecture. All conditions have been created here to enable students to reach the heights of modern science, actively participate in the institute’s public life, spend their leisure time meaningfully, and engage in sports.
The complex comprises administrative and academic buildings with assembly halls seating 700 and 200 people, a 12-apartment residential building for teachers, and dormitories accommodating 2,000 students. In addition, the campus includes a 1,000-seat cafeteria, a library capable of storing up to 1 million books, with a reading room for 700 people and an electronic library for 100 people, a 500-seat stadium, a sports hall, three sports grounds, as well as open and covered parking facilities, each designed to accommodate 200 vehicles.
A museum has been established in the main building, featuring sections devoted to the history of Turkmenistan’s independence, the history of the higher education institution, as well as archaeology, ethnography, and the plant and animal worlds. All the necessary utility, technical, and auxiliary buildings are located on the campus.
Several years ago, during a working visit to the Lebap velayat, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Hero-Arkadag, visited this oldest higher education institution in the country, met with students and teachers, and gave them his guidance. Noting the institute’s rich history, Hero-Arkadag pointed out that among its graduates are prominent scientists and statesmen. As was emphasized, Heroes of Turkmenistan Gozel Shagulyyeva and Chinar Rustemova also studied here. In this regard, the National Leader of the Turkmen people recommended establishing a special Heroes’ Room at the institute. At the same time, a decision was announced to construct a new complex of buildings for the higher education institution. And now, pursuant to the relevant Resolution of the President of the country, this modern student campus has been built in a short period of time.
Looking back at the history of the institution, even before the establishment of the pedagogical institute in Charjev, a Teachers’ Institute had already been operating there since 1922. This is evidenced by an inspection report dated April 10, 1925, preserved in the State Archive of the Lebap velayat. The document states that the institute was of republican significance and trained personnel not only for the Lenin (Charjev) District but also for the entire republic. At that time, between 80 and 100 students aged 14 to 30 were studying there under the guidance of eight teachers. Over time, the institution was improved, and by Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Turkmen SSR dated December 3, 1941, it, together with the pedagogical college, was temporarily transferred to Dashoguz. In 1949, the institute returned to Charjev and was housed in the building of a children’s hospital.
The official history of the Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute began on August 7, 1950, with Resolution No. 536 of the Council of Ministers of the Turkmen SSR, on the basis of the Charjev Teachers’ Institute. At that time, it had six faculties — Native Language and Literature, History, Physics and Mathematics, Geography, Foreign Languages, and Natural Sciences — and 18 departments. Later, in 1956, a correspondence department was established, and the duration of study became five years.
In March 1959, the Council of Ministers of the Turkmen SSR decided to merge pedagogical higher education institutions in order to improve the quality of personnel training. Pursuant to Resolution No. 160 dated May 5, 1959, the Mary Women’s Teachers’ Institute and the Dashoguz Pedagogical Institute were merged with the Charjev Pedagogical Institute. The institution became a unified center for training teachers for all schools of the republic and was named after V. I. Lenin. Following Turkmenistan’s independence, the institute entered an era of profound reforms, and on February 15, 1993, it was named after the poet and warrior Seyitnazar Seydi.
The opening of the new complex of buildings of the country’s higher education institution has become another golden page in its long history.
