Minister Dimitri Shashkini, the Director of National Center for Teacher Professional Development Gia Mamulashvili, and the Principal of Tbilisi Public School #24 Gia Murghulia hosted a group of journalists during their tour of the New "Teacher’s House."

Media representatives visited laboratories, libraries, conference halls and training rooms at the Teacher’s House. Trainings are held on a daily basis in this new facility, where up to 300 teachers are albe to participate in each session.

Journalists had the opportunity to see some trainings first-hand; they participated in such topics as Physiology of Education, Physics, Biology and English Language, and were able to speak directly to the participants of these trainings.

The purpose of the Teacher’s House is to serve teachers 24 hours a day, including providing such support as training programs in professional development and all school subjects. The center also provides financial and legal conselations for school teachers and principals. Furthermore, presentations and discussion forums on the latest publications of educational literature, model lessons, master classes, and online conferences will all be arranged in this new facility.

A separate room has been designed for child-care in the case that teachers must bring their children with them when attending trainings.

Supporting teacher professional development is one of the top priorities of current education reforms. Teacher certification examinations are voluntary until 2014. Certified teachers receive additional payment to their monthly salary, amounting to 75 GEL. Those who pass an exam in English Language and Computer Technology receive 200 GEL as an additional payment, and qualified mentor teachers have 180 GEL added as a surplus to their salary. As an additional incentive, the 25% of teachers with the highest scores on their certification exams receive 1000 GEL as monthly salary.