The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, with the support of the Government of Estonia and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), is pursuing a project aimed at revising national curriculum for the upper secondary – 11-12 grades, in line with international experience and best practices. As a result, students will acquire the knowledge, skills, approaches, and competencies needed for the challenges of the 21st century and will further enable their employment. Estonia's Inove Foundation will also be actively involved in the revision of the curriculum.
Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia - Ekaterine Dgebuadze held a videoconference with the Ambassador of Estonia - Kai Kaarelson, UNICEF Representative in Georgia - Ghassan Khalil and the representative of Inove - Einar Vara.
During the meeting, Ghassan Khalil noted that the main priority of the partnership with the Ministry and the Embassy of Estonia is to improve the quality of education in Georgia. She also spoke about the opportunity to learn the Estonian education model and apply the accumulated experience, which implies a child-centered and competency-based curriculum, with innovative and interactive learning. All of this helps to provide students with an appropriate learning environment.
The sides discussed issues surrounding the partnership, which encompasses the definition of policies and necessary objectives for the upper secondary education level. Also, the parties examined the post education employment opportunities, distribution of courses, standards of teaching, evaluations of specific mechanisms, increasing students’ competencies and getting the youth ready for responsible, adult life, employment and further education.
Ekaterine Dgebuadze thanked the participants for their fruitful cooperation and for the implementation of an important educational project in Georgia. At the end of the meeting, the sides agreed on close cooperation and discussed future plans for introducing modern approaches to education at Georgian schools.
This project represents a logical extension of the partnership implemented in 2014-2016, which revised the National Curriculum for I - IX classes.
Along with the revision of the National Curriculum, in 2017-2019, 20 selected pilot schoolteachers across the country were trained and introduced to innovative teaching approaches. As part of the program, Georgian practicing teachers visited Estonia to study the Estonian model of education.
The use of modern technology in classrooms, has overhauled the process of conducting lessons at 20 pilot schools, resulting in lessons becoming more interactive, engaging and entertaining. Based on this approach, the Georgian government has developed a “new school model”.