Vocational Education for Convicts

The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia has been cooperating with the Ministry of Penitentiary and Probation for vocational training of convicts for four years. In 2014, Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and Ministry of Penitentiary and Probation signed a memorandum of mutual cooperation. Approximately 2582 convicts throughout the country (during the four years of the short-term vocational program) have underwent more than 41 various vocational programs.

Within the memorandum framework, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia has provided the fulfillment of the following obligations:

  • Identification of relevant educational institutions and their funding, which included:

A)    Establishment of the necessary environment for convicts and conditionally released convicts, arrangement of material-technical base, acquisition of educational materials / inventory, reimbursement of teachers' compensation, reimbursement of administrative expenses, reimbursement of professional training certificates and other expenses;

B)     Remuneration of teachers who are involved in providing education for prisoners in penitentiary facilities, as well as the compensation of administrative expenses, vocational training certificates and other expenses.

Within the memorandum framework, the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia has provided the fulfillment of the following obligations:

  • The provision of a full list of vocational educational programs and the list of applicants who are willing to be involved in the educational process designated towards the convicted citizens of Georgia to the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia;
  • The allocation of the suitable study area, inventory and creation of adequate learning environment in the ​​penitentiary facilities. As well as creating the necessary environment for the implementation of vocational training programs, arrangement of material-technical base, purchase of educational materials and inventory.

Due to an increased demand of vocational education, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia signed a memorandum of cooperation on March 21, 2018, with the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance, which foresees a continuous implementation of vocational education, enabling the re-socialization of convicts into the Georgian society.

Convicts and all other interested parties have the opportunity to obtain any information regarding the implemented vocational programs at the penitentiary facilities.