Within the framework of the
project “Georgian Government for Open Governance”, Tamar Sanikidze, Minister of
Education and Science of Georgia,” held a meeting with journalists. Minister introduced the projects
that started immediately after the change of the Government in Georgia. Tamar
Sanikidze also introduced the changes during the period of being in the office. After the end of the meeting, Tamar Sanikidze
answered the questions.
Already
accomplished projects are:
- free textbooks
- school transportation
- free faculties
- free vocational education
- increased salaries of teachers,
administration and technical personnel.
This is the list of major
changes carried out during the period when Giorgi Margvelashvili was Minister
of Education. These changes made education accessible for everyone.
Important changes were
implemented after Tamar Sanikidze became Minister and the process is currently
under way, namely (General Education):
- Inclusive education
strategy and Action Plan for 2013-2016 was been prepared
- Integrated classes were
opened in two public schools of Tbilisi for pupils with special educational
needs.
- For the first time after 50
years the Ministry printed complete set of school textbooks with Braille
transcript for blind and visually impaired pupils.
- Beginning form 2013, a
school will be provided with a special teacher or a psychologist in case there
is a pupil with special educational needs in a school. For the first time this
year, educational programme of Special Teacher has been accredited and Ilia State
University shall carry out this program from 2014.
- Works on two guidelines in
inclusive education are under way.
- Works on creation of
national model “Second chance to receive education” in State Education System
are under way. The Program will enable children left beyond learning process
(socially unprotected children, children who live and work in the streets) to
become integrated in educational process
- Internet installation
process is coming to an end.
- Standard for libraries and
librarians was created
- Financing of public schools
has increased based on location, number of pupils with special educational
needs and components necessary for school development.
- Supplement to the salary for certified teachers is granted in proportion
with class hours.
- More than 600 schools throughout Georgia have
been rehabilitated; heating system have been installed in more than 80
schools. The process continues. Construction of nine new schools shall start in
November.
- Psychology Center of the
Office of Resource Officers of Educational Institutions was opened in April
2013.
- “Professional orientation
and career-planning courses” etc. were elaborated for pupils of 9th and
12th grades
Vocational Education
- Strategy for
Vocational Education Development (2013-2020) and Private Sector Involvement in
Vocational Education was elaborated.
- Transparent registration,
enrollment and financing system have been established, barrier for moving on
from step to the next has been abolished.
- Implementation of Inclusive
vocational education has started.
- Rehabilitation of teaching
buildings and workshops in 4 colleges of the regions is planned for the
upcoming year.
Higher Education
- Amount of money allocated for
financing bachelor students within social program has increased by 1.5
million GEL.
- Socially unprotected
students who were enrolled based on the results of National Examinations
2012-2012 have been financed for the first time this year.
- Social program for Master
students has started.
- State stipend for students has
doubled.
- PhD studies will be financed
for the first time.
- Summer and Winter schools have
started.
- Program “Tsodnis Kari” has
started operating with increased budget and new components.
The reforms in
the direction of teachers’ professional development and certification, carried
out during the previous years have not been fruitful. As a result of works in
this direction, the Ministry has defined the following:
- Career development steps.
- Motivation ‘package’ and
programs for the increase of qualification corresponding to each
step.
- Professional standard according
to career development steps.
- Instruments to assess teachers’
knowledge and skills.
- A model project
has been elaborated proposing alternative ways to teachers. They will be
provided with various means for evaluation and development. (Working on a
special structure is under way in order to enable teachers to enter new
scheme and maintain accumulated credits and certification results).
