Within the framework of the project “Georgian Government for Open Governance”, Giorgi Margvelashvili, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia,” held a meeting with journalists and answered their questions.

In the beginning of the meeting, the Minister spoke about novelties of the year 2013 and future projects. Giorgi Margvelashvili made a brief summary of the last 5 months:

• The Ministry managed to provide 650 thousand pupils of 2084 Public Schools with textbooks for the school year 2013-2014.
• Within the framework of the project “School Accessibility”, up to 16000 pupils of 330 public schools have school buses from January 2013
• From 2013 teachers’ salaries have increased by 26%-60%, i.e. 60-205 GEL. Consequently, the budget of the Ministry has increased by 50 million GEL.
• In regions of Georgia, heating systems of up to 20 public schools were rehabilitated and gas heating was installed in the same number of schools.
• For the first time this year, State shall finance studies for 17 specialities of state higher educational institutions.
• In 2013, based on national exams, annual amount of financing has doubled and grant financing shall cover all faculties.
• Financing has doubled for socially unprotected students in the framework of grant programs.
• The budget of “State Grants for Students” has doubled
• 2423 students who suffered from natural calamity in 2012 have received financing for the academic year 2012-2013. 

Plans for 2013:

• Up to 600 public schools shall be rehabilitated and quality will be the main focus of the conducted works.
• Within the framework of MCC 5-year educational project, additionally 150 schools will be rehabilitated
• Several schools will be built
• Installation of gas systems is planned in 42 public schools.
• Every first grader will receive a computer.
• Schools will be provided with new school equipment
• Investment of 15 million USD is planned in the development of vocational education system.

This is a short list of planned novelties for 2013. Brief report of the Minister was followed by questions and answers. Questions of the journalists were referred to the topics of free textbooks, school rehabilitation, school-leaving and Master exams, work of the special committee reviewing cases of teachers unfairly dismissed on political grounds and other important issues.