The Minister of Education and Science of Georgia spends most of his time at work. He thinks that this job is the most complicated one he has ever had in his entire life, bearing in mind the fact he was the “Minister of Prisons” before that. Last week was a great mess occurred in his Ministry – the preparation for the solemn reforms had begun and the media was broadcasting these innovations and the natural disaster of Haiti with the same intensity.

Despite his busy schedule, the Minister tries deprive his family with attention and spend at least one day a week with them. Dimitri Shashkini’s wife is Ana Tkemaladze. They have two children – an 11 year-old son Nicolas and a 5 year-old Sophia. “Sarke” spoke with the official about informal topics - his personal life, topic that interests our society the most.

Mr. Shashkini, what kind of child were you?

I did not like kindergarten, I always tried not to go there, I liked Telavi and I always looked forward to going there.

What connects you to Telavi?

My mother is from Telavi, we had a house there and I was spending all the summer in Telavi. I had many friends there.

What kind of schoolboy were you?

I was a good child. When I graduated from school, I only had three or four B’s in my high school diploma. The rest were A’s. I was one of the best at school and teachers liked me.

Did you cut classes?

I behaved like every other ordinary boy. I was not a misbehaved child, I was often rewarded with certificates.

So the Minister of Education and Science serves as a good example for other children?

You can say so.

What do you remember about studying at Soviet school? What was and was not required from your generation?

Great attention was paid on a schoolchild’s appearance - uniform, hair and etc. One day my schoolmate came with the bangs when we were in the first grade. Such hairstyle was unaccepted during the Communist times. The teacher warned him to cut his bangs or he would not be allowed to school. The next day he came to school with the same hairstyle. I took the scissors and gave him a new hair style. . .

And how was it?

Good. I liked it very much.

Was it a boy or a girl?

It was a boy.

What about others, did they like your creation?

The next day his mother came to school. I thought she would be grateful to me, but I was shocked, when she started arguing with me. I could not understand why she was angry. In my opinion, his son had a good haircut. I did real well and I liked it.

Did this boy like his haircut?

Of course, he liked it. Only his mother did not like. I was surprised, I thought I did a good thing.

What did the teachers say to you?

As I said everyone was pleased. The teacher liked it because I fulfilled her task. Only his mother was dissatisfied. I liked school very much, I had many friends.

Do you still keep in touch with them?

Yes, we are still friends. Many of them have gone abroad, but I still keep in touch with others.

Tell us about your parents.

Father was born in Umani. He was one year old, when he was brought to Georgia during the evacuation. His father, my grandfather was a soldier. He died in Poland in 1945. My mother was born in Telavi. Father was the member of the Constitutional Court, mother was working at the Criminal Investigation Department Ministry of Internal Affairs. I have a sister; she is 9 years younger than me.

What is your hobby?

My father was a world champion in water polo. I followed this sport for 5 years. My father wanted me become a water-polo player. We frequently visited pools and played together.

Were you successful?

I am not the world champion, as you can see. I followed water polo until 1989. Then difficult years began in Georgia without water, or swimming pool. Many talented children, who were playing better than me, had to leave sport because of the bad or no conditions. This was the period when the development of sport stopped.

Would you follow the sport career if had these difficulties never occurred?

I would probably continue, I like sport very much. I have the particular interest in balls. I was in the basketball team at school; I also liked playing football.

Do you follow sports nowadays?

I visit swimming pools and follow lift weights, if I have spare time.

How many kilos can you lift?

It depends on the intensity of my training. If I do sit ups, my weight is 120 kilos. I am trying to have a healthy way of life. I have mini gym at home and I work out in there. Unfortunately, I have no time to visit swimming pools.

Before being appointed as the Minister of Education and Science, you held rather important positions. Which one was the most difficult post?

My current position turned out to be the most difficult one. I lost 12 kilograms in a month without any diet.

By the way, you looked heavier on TV…

My weight was 103 kilograms when I was appointed as the Minister of Education and Science, now I am 91. This field is very huge and complicated – there are more than 600,000 children and 70,000 teachers, around 2,400 schools, 65 universities, 35 Vocational Education and Training centers and plus science . . . So it is a huge sphere and there is a lot to do. My former job was hard enough as well, but it had a different specific nature. I often say, I was not born in the prison or as a teacher. I am a manager and a manager can work anywhere.

Even prisoners do not lose 12 kilograms, what kind of schedule do you have?

It is a serious problem, when a person sleeps for only three hours a night. If you look over my schedule, you will find out, that I have no time even for dinner, and this is also a great problem. 

Do you have time for your family?

I have only one day a week and it is normally in the second half of the day to spend with them. This is when I buy gifts for children and have a dinner with them. If I do not return home late and my children are awake I play computer games with my son.

Are your children protesting against your schedule?

They know that I have a busy schedule. My schedule was about the same at the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance. I often traveled with my family when I was working at the American Corporation. I always try to be with my family during my vacations.

Are your children following sport?

My son goes swimming.

Tell us about your wife and your love story.

When I graduated from school, I was working at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and at the same time was studying at Georgian-Greek University. Then I entered Tbilisi State University and left Georgian-Greek University. Once I paid a visit there to meet with friends and met my future wife, Ana Tkemaladze, for the first time there. We have been together for 12 years.

What do you and your wife have in common?

Our family and our children are the most important values for both of us. When a husband and wife have a lot in common, that family is strong. We had many hard times, but there were difficulties too.

What do you mean in difficulties?

God gave us two children, but Ana had very difficult pregnancy on both of them.

Is there anything you do not agree with each other?

I am very strict with my son and soft with my daughter. Ana is contrary. We often argue about this issue. I am very quick-tempered and Ana makes me calm.

You do not seem like a quick-tempered person and you have the image of a balanced person. What can make you frustrated?

Ingratitude and stupidity, when a person does not understand what he/she is talking about, when the person does not live in reality and still tries to have make his/her point. Also, I don’t like lazy persons.

Do you often give gifts to your wife?

Of course, I am going to give her with a new telephone now.

Does she already know, or it is a surprise and she will find it out from our magazine?

No, your magazine will be published on Wednesday and Ana will receive my present earlier.

Irina Mchedlidze