VELAYAT STAGE OF THE COMPETITION ON THE BOOKS OF HERO ARKADAG WAS HELD

Recently, in accordance with the plan developed by the Main Department of Education of Balkan Velayat and the Center for Professional Development of Teachers of General and Preschool Educational Institutions, the provincial round of the competition was held among heads of educational institutions on the books "The Meaning of My Life" and "The Continuation of the Meaning of My Life", gifted to our people by the National Leader of the Turkmen people — Hero Arkadag.

The purpose of the competition is to implement the goals derived from the Resolution of the Honorable President of Turkmenistan dated January 24, 2025, No. 1251 “On Approving the State Program for the Development of the Library System in Turkmenistan for 2025–2029”; to memorize the guiding books of Hero Arkadag "The Meaning of My Life" and "The Continuation of the Meaning of My Life", which contribute to educating the younger generation with perfect knowledge in the national spirit, as well as to further develop the reading habits of heads of educational institutions.

The competition brought together heads of educational institutions — principals of general secondary schools and heads of preschool institutions who had won the Grand Prize and first places at the city and district levels in two categories.

According to the results of computer–based testing, the Grand Prize among school principals was awarded to Ilyas Patlakov, principal of School No. 16 of Gyzylarbat district; first place went to Perkhat Nuryyev, principal of School No. 6 in Balkanabat city; second place — Maya Arazberdiyeva, principal of School No. 1 in Turkmenbashi city, and Khudaynazar Khojamammedov, principal of School No. 10 in the town of Oglanly, Balkanabat city; and third place — Ogulguzel Orsbaeva, principal of School No. 23 with advanced instruction in exact sciences in Gyzylarbat district.

Among heads of preschool institutions, the Grand Prize was awarded to Gulalek Soyesheva, head of Kindergarten No. 12 in Balkanabat city; first place — Aibibi Khadzhieva, head of Kindergarten No. 24 in Balkanabat city; second place — Dursunjemal Annaberdyeva, head of Kindergarten No. 10 in Gyzylarbat district; and third place — Enejan Orazberdiyeva, head of Kindergarten No. 13 in Turkmenbashi city.

The winners were awarded diplomas from the Main Department of Education of Balkan Velayat and commemorative gifts from the council of the Science and Education Workers’ Union of Balkanabat city.

At the conclusion of the competition, the Grand Prize winner — principal of School No. 16 of Gyzylarbat district and poet, Ilyas Patlakov — gave a speech. He noted:

“I consider the works of Hero Arkadag a companion in my life and work. Each time I read the books of Hero Arkadag, a new world opens for me. The wise books of Hero Arkadag should become a companion in the life and work of each of us.”

He concluded his speech with a poem written during the competition:

After reading the book “The Meaning of My Life”…

What do you see as the meaning of life?!

After reading the wonderful book of Arkadag,

I saw kindness toward people —

In honest work, honor, and respect.

I saw it in the glorious history of our past,

In the fathers who founded great states.

I saw the Turkmen in the Turkmen steppe — in Turan.

With the blessing of Mane-baba,

Those who made the Turkmen name known worldwide,

I saw them in the Seljuk campaigns.

In the stories of Dede Gorkut,

In the celebrations of Gorogly-bek,

In the sweat of the ploughman,

In the father’s cherished advice,

In the mother’s handiwork.

I saw it in the past, the present, and the future.

In the proud day of today,

In the youth who will change the future,

In the national traditions of the people.

In the development of the Independent Homeland —

In changes at every step,

In every village, in every city and town.

I saw in the book “The Meaning of My Life”

Thoughts inspired by the wisdom of Arkadag.

Azat Berdyev

Chief Specialist, Department of General Secondary Education

Main Department of Education of Balkan Velayat