Turkmenistan: Ruhnama Stays on the Curriculum for Third-Level Students

The Ruhnama, a spiritual guide purportedly penned by the late ruler of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov, is set to remain an essential part of the country's curriculum.

Despite President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov's pledge to overhaul the education sector, the Ruhnama remains a requirement for almost courses of study, Chrono-tm.org reported on July 7.

Advertisements in the latest edition of the government-run Neutralny Turkmenistan newspaper inform would-be students at higher educational institutions that they must pass an exam on the "Sacred Ruhnama" if they wish to gain admission to their institution of choice.