Consistently emphasising the importance of the spiritual and moral upbringing of modern youth, the leader of the nation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov urges to rely upon the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Turkmen people and inexhaustible resources of folk pedagogy, in which knowledge, skills and abilities, tested by practice and passed from one generation to another are combined. This, in turn, requires the widespread use of folk traditions and customs in family upbringing, which will have a beneficial effect on the formation of high patriotism, a sense of self-awareness, honour and dignity in young people.
We can find the very first ideas of national upbringing in the wise teachings of our ancient forefather Oguz Khan, who paid special attention to the formation of the best traits of national character in his six sons and numerous grandchildren: kindness, mercy, diligence, hospitality and patriotism. So, calling for kindness, Oguz Khan taught, “Honour the old as father and the young as brothers.” In everyday life, the forefather of the Turkmen taught to do good, “Visit the sick person, bid farewell to the deceased”, “Do not pass a person without greeting and say a good word to him.”
