The Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Dimitri Shashkini, met with members of Parliament to introduce them to the Strategic Plan of the Ministry for the year 2012.

During his presentation, Minister Shashkini covered all fields of education. He spoke about the project that will be implemented in the general education. From the next academic year, a new National Curriculum will be introduced in grades 7 through 12. Instruction in the subjects of exact and natural sciences will be reinforced. In the scope of the program “Einstein”, schools throughout Georgia will be provided with 900 new laboratory equipment sets and 200 Smart Boards.  Also, a new e-Strategy will be launched. The arrival of English language volunteer teachers will continue as part of the program "Teach and Learn with Georgia." Three hundred native English language volunteer teachers will teach in the schools of Kvemo Kartli, Samtskhe-Javakheti and other mountainous regions of Georgia. Five hundred volunteer teachers will work in non-Georgian schools.

In 2012, all first graders and their teachers will be provided with net-books assembled in Georgia's computer factory. All schoolchildren from socially vulnerable families will get textbooks free of charge. The process of Teachers’ Certification will continue and certified teachers will receive higher salaries. Development of inclusive education will also continue. The Office of Resource Officers will also be enlarged.

In the 2012 educational budget, 40 million GEL will be allocated to the development of educational environments. Twenty new schools will be built, and schools will be provided with new furniture.

In 2012, Teachers’ Houses will be built in Kutaisi, Batumi and Zugdidi; three Professional Education Institutions will be constructed in Tbilisi, Ozurgeti and Kobuleti; two Infromational Centers will be built in Telavi and Zugdidi; an Examination Center and the International Community College of Sony will be built in Tbilisi. Construction of the new Technical University will begin in Batumi.

The Government of Georgia will continue to support the development of higher education and fields of science. In the budget of 2012, 37 million GEL will be allocated to scientific researche.

The most successful students will be awarded for their acheivements; the Ministry will continue financing the study of Georgian students at different universities around the world.

These are the plans of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia for the year 2012. The Minister’s speech at Parliament was followed with a Q&A session.