During his talk, the Minister focused on the following initiatives: for the first time, this year, volunteers willing to acquire vocational education will be granted with vouchers in the amount of 1000GEL and opportunity to study at preferred educational institutions; summer job programs will be launched; In the scope of the program, 25,000 students will have a chance to be involved in summer jobs. Their salary will be 500 GEL. Students will be able to choose the job of their interest out of 70 options. Retraining of the population will be undertaken in 15 cities in English, computer and professional skills.
A new national curriculum will be implemented for grades VII-XII starting in the next academic year, and new textbooks will be also developed; the price of these handbooks will be only 10 GEL. New handbooks will stay unchanged for the subsequent 5 years. Children from socially vulnerable families will get them free of charge. E-strategy will be developed; Future Class” (classes with modern technologies) will be opened in 100 schools. The classroom-cabinet will possess unique capabilities. The new technologies that the classroom will be equipped will promote effective learning.
In 2012, 60 000 first graders and their teachers will receive netbooks; Children from socially vulnerable families will get them free of charge.
Instruction in the English language will be further strengthened and 1,500 native English speakers will arrive to Georgia as a part of the educational program “Teach and learn with Georgia.” All students will be required to pass the exam of English Language (levels: B1, B2) in order to receive a BA diploma.
In parallel to contextual alterations, there are infrastructural projects on the agenda as well, which aim to improve school infrastructure with funding in the amount of 40 million GEL: 10 new schools will be built, 4 new vocational educational institutions will be opened in Tbilisi, Ozurgeti, Kobuleti; 3 new IT centers will be opened in Telavi, Zugdidi, Akhaltsikhe in line with Sony professional college.
As a part of the session, the Minister also answered the questions.