Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia Mr. Mikheil Batiashvili together with the deputy minister - Irina Abuladze, and Irina Tserodze, head of Vocational Education Development Department, held a presentation on vocational education within the ongoing education reform.

The development of a vocational education system involves several areas and is focused on improvement of cooperation with the private sector, increasing the competitiveness of the workforce and the rapid employment, taking into consideration the needs of regional development and the local and international labor markets.

Starting the next year, three year phase of vocational education reform will start, which means offering new educational services are offered for both young people and adults.

In terms of facilitation of integration of general education, young people with basic education (9 classes) will be able to get full general education.

Individuals with full general education (12 classes) will have the opportunity to study higher professional education programs developed by the employers.

For formal education, short-term training and retraining, specific courses are also being developed for adult education system, which implies renewing skills or acquiring new competences in the desired fields.

The three-year phase also aims to introduce mechanisms for recognition of informal education; Facilitate the involvement of employers in the implementation of professional programs, increasing the scale of work-based / dual teaching; Introduction of Exchange Programs and International Certified Programs; Development of professional counseling system; Introduction of professional education teachers, new model of vocational development and so forth.

The reform also includes improvement of regional coverage, considering local needs and using public-private partnership models.

Besides, vocational education, entrepreneurial education will be enhanced in vocational schools. High-tech centers will be developed (EXCELLENCE CENTERS) that will facilitate the study of future professions using modern technologies and develop technical, digital, entrepreneurial and creative skills.