Green education, or education that takes into account sustainable development, aims to develop in people, especially the younger generation, the knowledge, skills, habits, values and behavioral patterns necessary for building a sustainable society and passing on a healthy environment to future generations. This concept encompasses, on the one hand, the study of the fundamentals of ecology and sustainable development, and, on the other, the introduction of environmentally friendly and efficient energy-saving solutions in educational institutions.

Responsible attitude toward nature and the development of an environmental culture are key aspects of green education. To this end, concepts, related to climate change, sustainable development, natural resources and their rational use, are introduced at all levels of education. With this aim in view, specialized subjects are included in the curriculum. Extracurricular activities and public events are also regularly organized. 

Another aspect of green education is the transformation of the educational environment. This involves the creation of green schools or green educational centers that serve as models of sustainable development. Green education encompasses such objectives as raising youth awareness of environmental well-being, promoting the rational use of natural resources and teaching students to find creative solutions to environmental problems. 

Educational institutions across the country are effectively working to improve the environmental education and skills of the younger generation. Particular attention is being paid to developing international cooperation in this area. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan in April of the International Year of Peace and Trust, on the implementation of the joint Green School Program marks the expansion of cooperation in this area. This program is the first of its kind in the Central Asian region and aims to the transition of participating schools to a sustainable and energy-efficient learning environment. The implementation of the Program entails integrating sustainable development principles into all aspects of school life, from interactive education to the ensuring of the energy efficiency of educational institutions. 

It should be noted that higher education institutions in Turkmenistan have also begun effective work to implement the conception of green education. This is evidenced by the fact that several universities and institutes in our country have already been included in international rankings specializing in this area. Green rankings of higher education institutions primarily consider their commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and the green economy, including the implementation of environmentally friendly practices in the higher education institution’s activities.

The most well-known international ranking in this area is UI GreenMetric. Launched in 2010 by the University of Indonesia, this international ranking is one of the leading platforms for assessing university efforts in environmental sustainability. UI GreenMetric analyzes universities’ performance across six main categories. Each indicator is assessed with points, which are then summed up to form an overall score. Aspects considered include natural resource management and energy efficiency, waste management systems, the use of environmentally friendly modes of transport, the creation of green infrastructure in academic buildings and the implementation and development of environmentally friendly curricula. 

It is worth noting that in 2024, 11 Turkmen higher education institutions were included in the prestigious international UI GreenMetric ranking, which evaluates universities’ contribution to sustainable development. Oguzhan Engineering and Technology University of Turkmenistan and S.A. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University took the top positions among Turkmen universities, placing them among the top 500 universities in the global ranking. These universities demonstrated high levels of performance in indicators such as infrastructure and educational initiatives. Last year, 1,477 higher education institutions from 95 countries were included in this ranking. 

The successful implementation of educational reforms, initiated by the Hero-Arkadag and being successfully continued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov is bringing the national education system to a new level of development. The compliance of new educational buildings with international environmental standards and the creation of favorable conditions for improving the knowledge of young people in this area are the result of large-scale work being carried out in this area. The presence of solar panels and a Renewable Energy Sources Research and Production Center in the new additional educational building of the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan, which was commissioned in the city of Mary on the Day of Knowledge and Student Youth, September 1 in the International Year of Peace and Trust, is vivid evidence of the successful implementation of green energy policy in our country. 

Kerimmuhammet MUHAMMETORAZOV,
a specialist at the General Department, Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan