09.12.2011
Deputy Minister Irine Kurdadze awarded five vocational colleges with golden medals and granted twenty teachers of vocational colleges with cash prizes and certificates; these teachers have passed trainings in teacher professional skills and inclusive education. In total, 103 successful teachers have been awarded.  

The awarding ceremony took place in Tbilisi's Teacher’s House. The following colleges were granted medals: Ikarosi (Tbilisi); Fazisi  (Poti); Iberia (Kutasi); Aisi (Kachreti); and Akhali Talga  (Kobuleti). These institutions were selected on the basis of the following criteria: total number of trained teachers, quality of learning, and number of employed students. Out of these colleges, three of them (Aisi, Akhlai Talga and Iberia) went through the authorization process and acquired the status of community colleges.

Since 2010, the Ministry has been taking various measures to upgrade the qualification of teachers of vocational educational institutions; a working group has been established to develop teacher professional standards, and trainings and seminars have been organized for teachers. Additionally, the National Center for Teacher Professional Development will organize training for teachers in respective subjects and professional skills throughout 2012.