Turkmenistan Lower Secondary School Curriculum - Rukhnama

The Rukhnama, meaning "Book of the Soul," is a two-volume work written by former Turkmenistan President Saparmurat Niyazov. It was intended as a spiritual guide and source of national identity for the Turkmen people. The book covered a range of topics, including history, philosophy, and moral guidance.

Rukhnama in the Curriculum

The Rukhnama was heavily integrated into Turkmenistan's education system, from primary schools to universities. In 2004, primary and secondary schools dedicated two to four hours per week to studying the Rukhnama, while universities allocated four to eight hours. Knowledge of the Rukhnama was essential for government employment and even obtaining a driver's license. It was translated into multiple languages.

While the Rukhnama's exact place in the 7th-grade curriculum remains unclear, it was a required subject in secondary schools. Additionally, 7th graders also studied a novel written by President Berdymukhamedov.

Removal from the Curriculum

In the years following Niyazov's death in 2006, the Rukhnama's prominence declined. It was gradually phased out of the classroom, and the requirement to pass an exam on the Rukhnama for secondary school was removed in 2011. By 2013, it was removed from university curricula and taught only one hour per week in secondary schools. The Rukhnama's removal reflects a shift in educational priorities under President Berdymukhamedov.