Government of Georgia for Open Government – Two-Year Report
Over the span of two years, significant steps have been taken to enhance the quality and accessibility of education. For the second consecutive year, up to 500,000 students are provided with school textbooks free of charge, while school accessibility has been enhanced by the school bus service. More than 52,000 students from over 1,000 schools utilize this service. These large-scale programs have reduced families' annual expenditures on general education by nearly 60%.
Over the two years, the Ministry ensured the full inclusion of students with special educational needs within the education system, as well as providing a "second chance at education" for children who remained out of school for various reasons. Today, in every school where there are students with special educational needs, a special teacher and assistant teacher work, and special schools are provided with adapted textbooks, guides, and supporting literature.
The number of integrated classes has increased, education has been made accessible to children suffering from leukemia, a special school has been established at the Iashvili Clinic, and children receive educational services on-site. Penitentiary institutions ensure that all minors have the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education.
With the aim of improving the quality of teaching and learning and student outcomes, work began on the development of the National Curriculum, the subject standards of the primary education stage were revised, and part of the changes to the National Curriculum were already introduced for the 2014-2015 academic year. The process is ongoing, and parallel to the development of the National Curriculum, the content of textbooks will be brought into compliance. To ensure the quality of education, preschool education and school-readiness programs have been prepared.
To improve the quality of teaching and learning, a new model for entering the teaching profession, professional development, and career growth has been developed; within the framework of this scheme, the teacher's salary and motivational package will be regulated.
Extensive work has been carried out to improve the educational environment. Over the course of two years, various types of rehabilitation works were conducted in nearly 1,000 schools; the construction of 7 schools has already been completed this year, two schools will be completed by the beginning of 2015, and 8 new schools will be built in 2015. The institution of school doctors was introduced in schools. Necessary changes were implemented in the school funding system based on geographical location, and more. This is an incomplete list of reforms implemented in the direction of general education.
The Minister also spoke in detail about the novelties implemented in vocational education: the Vocational Education Reform Strategy (for 2013–2020) and an action plan were created. In 2012, the Ministry fulfilled in a short period all the obligations assumed toward the European Union by the previous government that had remained unfulfilled. As a result, the state received budget support amounting to 5.9 million euros. Furthermore, the European Union continued its support for the development of vocational education, and the Government of Georgia will receive technical and budgetary support from the EU in the amount of 27 million euros over a 4-year period. Starting in 2014, a sharp increase in the vocational education budget began – the volume of funding tripled, and the growth trend continues.
Since 2013, the state has fully funded vocational education in state-founded educational institutions. In September 2013, a new funding model was approved that is more flexible and transparent than the previously existing one. As a result of the changes implemented over the two years, in 2013–2014, nearly 18,000 individuals benefited from free vocational education; the dropout rate among vocational students decreased from 20% to 8%.
The introduction of inclusive vocational education began in 2013. In 2014, over 150 individuals with special educational needs and disabilities entered the system to receive vocational education. A memorandum was signed with the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance aimed at the vocational training of convicts, and this year a memorandum of cooperation was signed with the Ministry of Justice aimed at the resocialization of former prisoners.
Projects for the development and establishment of new colleges are being implemented. Recommendations for the development of 26 new educational institutions were drawn up. In accordance with these recommendations, development plans for new vocational educational institutions were prepared. In 2013–2014, two colleges were established – the Tbilisi College of Arts and the Tsereteli (Pretsminda) Public College in the village of Tsinamdzgvrantkari, Mtskheta.
The process of revising vocational standards using the DACUM methodology has begun, and educational programs are undergoing reform. Between 2014 and 2017, the system will transition from subject-based programs to teaching through modular educational programs. This year, the introduction of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model began in 6 pilot colleges (3 state-owned, 3 private).
In 2013, the salaries of vocational education teachers increased by an average of 35–40%. A special program was created to support the professional development of vocational education teachers; this year, for the first time, vocational education teachers underwent professional training under real working conditions. This is part of the innovations implemented in the field of vocational education.
The Minister also spoke at length about reforms carried out in higher education and science, international projects, and the international scientific programs implemented over the past two years, generally and specifically for young scientists.
Since 2013, the Ministry has implemented a number of measures aimed at increasing the accessibility and quality of higher education. Currently, the state funds studies in 21 priority areas.
The budget of the social program was doubled for socially vulnerable students as well as various categories of students. For the first time, a social program was launched for Master's students. State grants were issued for doctoral students for the first time. As a result of the measures taken, nearly 22,000 students study with full state funding. Support for involving students in scientific research is taking place, and summer and winter scientific schools have been launched. The "San Diego State University and Georgia 2020" higher education project was funded by the US Millennium Challenge Corporation, as a result of which graduates in Georgia will receive American education and diplomas in engineering, technology, and natural science specialties. The budget of the project is 30 million US dollars.
Numerous projects supporting scientists are being implemented, agreements have been signed for the purpose of cooperation between Georgian students and scientists and international research organizations, and state higher educational institution infrastructure development programs are operational, among others. Tamar Sanikidze also spoke about the restructuring of the Rustaveli National Science Foundation and the future plans of the foundation.
Finally, the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia noted that all ongoing projects correspond to the strategic plans and visions of the ministry. These programs will continue to be successfully implemented in the future and will be directly aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning.
