Every student’s right will be equally preserved in a few months. Completely all graduates will receive not only the state diplomas, but their knowledge will be acknowledged in Georgia and abroad. For this goal, the Ministry has developed a new draft law and the Parliament will discuss it in Spring. According to the project, around 200 licensed higher educational institutions will pass the authorization for distributing state diplomas.
One of the main goals of Bologna process is to achieve the international recognition of the diplomas of higher educational institutions. Georgia is one of the 46 countries. This means, that the higher education diplomas will be recognized at the international level. But this privilege is only for the graduates of accredited institutions.
Currently, 70 accredited higher educational institutions exist in Georgia. But around 200 licensed institutions function at the same time. Children enter in this institutions bypassing Unified Entry Exams. So diplomas received by the students are imperfect. Only private sector can offer them jobs, because students with this diplomas have no right to work in public sector. According to the data of the Ministry of Education and Science, around 18,ooo students study at such licensed institutions. Their families pay solid payment, but state does not recognize such diplomas. So the students’ rights are violated.
Every student has a right to be thoroughly protected. According to the new project, which is developed by the initiative of the Ministry of Education and Science, all higher educational institutions will have to pass the authorization. This automatically means, that they will receive the right to accept students through Unified Entry Exams, as well as other accredited higher educational institutions. So they will award their students with the diplomas of national and international level. This will increase the prestige of higher educational institutions as well as defend students’ interests.
Passing the authorization by licensed institutions will be the step forward , because it will create competitive environment and give the institutions opportunity of development – this is the hope of the representatives of the Ministry. Besides, they will have opportunity to work for accreditation to receive state financing.
In the case, licensed institutions cannot pass the authorization, the Ministry gives them possibility to establish “ Community College”, based on two year educational base. These kinds of colleges are located in different countries and they function successfully. One of the advantages of the Community College is to prepare the students, who failed in crossing the minimal competency level or Unified Entry exams. The college will give them opportunity to master in different professions and prepare for national and graduating exams at the same time.
The draft law on authorization is already ready. Currently, the improving process is being carried together with the experts. The Ministry of Education and Science will present the draft to the government and the Parliament will discuss it in Spring.