The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of
Georgia - Mikheil Batiashvili held a presentation of the Education Reform in
Ikalto Monastery Complex.
This reform implies a comprehensive approach to all areas of education -
pre-school education, general education, vocational education, higher education
and accessibility of science. The reform ensures transformation of the unified
education system.
According to the Minister Batiashvili, it is important that every aspect of
education lies in the united system, which is synchronized and coordinated.
The Minister emphasized that presenting this reform in Ikalto Academy is
symbolic, as it signified the most important research center in the world,
almost a millennium ago.
Preschool education is the
foundation for the personal development and that is precisely why it is
crucially important to provide a high quality education for the pre-school
children and help them develop a set of skills that can guide them to succeed
in a post-secondary education. The development process should begin with the preschool
education, as this step is the foundation for personal growth.
Preschool education reform, along with other aspects, provides access to new
curriculum, retrained teachers, introduction of modern education standards in
all age groups, and the creation of the electronic resource platform for
parents, teachers and students alike.
At schools, a development of complex critical thinking is the main task of reform.
In addition to delivering knowledge to students, critical and analytical
thinking, creativity and skills are important for them to achieve success in a
constantly changing and ever developing world.
The personal improvement should be the primary concern of a school, which
entails, the development of inclusive, national and cultural values.
Innovation, constant strive to acquire new knowledge, sharing, unconditional
positive and safe environment - are the principles that will be based in new
school model.
According to the minister, the new model envisages the establishment of a school
principal as a leader, retraining of teachers and renewed infrastructure,
unified study and laboratory platforms and the most important components -
establishing a healthy lifestyle at schools, thus creating a safe environment.
Education
reform also envisages the increase of salaries
for teachers, school directors and faculty members. In the course of the
2018-2019 academic year, more than 10 000 teachers, including special teachers,
will receive an increased salary. In 2019-2021, salaries will be increased for
school directors, administrative personnel, and teachers. By 2022 the teacher's
average salary will reach 1500 GEL, 2000 GEL for more experienced teachers and
so forth.
One
of the main tasks of the reform is to develop the field of Vocational Education and move to a faster employment model,
oriented towards the regional development, which means a short-term retraining
system. This task will be possible only with the participation of the private
sector. In order for the reform to be effective, it will be implemented step by
step, according to a well though-of plan. Its first phase, which includes the
year of 2018-2019, enhances the number of vocational educational institutions
in 13 municipalities.
The Vocational education reform also envisages the
increase of salaries for teachers and faculty members of vocational education
institutions in 2019-2022.
Integration in the European Higher Education will also be the major aspect
of the reform in higher education. A new model of higher education funding will
be developed, in conjunction with integrating science structures, special
programs to attract foreign students and create a single electronic learning
platform.
In order for the reform to be effective, it will be implemented step by step,
according to the plan. Its first stage envisages the introduction of
international quality standards and accreditation standards, creation of
independent and international accreditation agencies. At the same stage of the
reform, the higher education system will be funded by a completely new model.
The second phase of the reform will be implemented by 2020-2023, when joint
programs with international universities will be introduced, and the number of
foreign students will increase by 50 thousand students as a result of the
targeted programs.
As Mikheil Batiashvili noted, strong science is the main priority of sustainable development. One
of the most important directions of education reform is the development and
promotion of science and science-related fields, which implies determining and
supporting strategic scientific projects on one hand and encouraging young
Georgian scholars and stimulating their engagement in international scientific
projects on the other.
At the first stage of the reform, the target funding is planned to support the
high standard international scientific publications.
The
second stage of the reform will include membership in an international
scientific and educational projects such as Academia Europea, EU Joint Research
Center, COST, H2020 / Horizon Europe, Japan JNR / COMET, CERN / ATLAS / CMS,
thus increasing the number of Georgian scholars involved in these international
projects. In addition, the modern electronic system of science will be created,
which will significantly help develop this field.
