Presentation of New University Programs Held

New bachelor's-master's educational academic programs will be launched for the purpose of university-based teacher training. Based on the new teacher professional development scheme, the programs were prepared by a group of scientists and educational experts from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Ilia State University. Today, a presentation of the new project was held at Ilia State University, which was attended by Tamar Sanikidze, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, rectors of state universities, and professors and teachers.

Two programs were presented at the presentation: a bachelor's-integrated (300-credit) master's program and a 60-credit one-year program for those who already have higher education, though non-pedagogical. For one year, they will study methodology, psychology, and, which is also very important, undergo pedagogical practice in schools, through which future teachers will test themselves in a real environment. Similar programs operate successfully in many European countries and fully comply with the requirements of the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area.

The launch of the new university programs was necessitated by the need to attract highly qualified personnel to general education institutions of Georgia, since the process of training teachers in the country had previously broken down and the number of applicants wishing to become teachers was small.

The new projects implemented by the Ministry — the new teacher professional development and entry-into-the-profession scheme, as well as the university programs — will serve precisely to interest young people in the pedagogical field and raise the prestige of the teaching profession. The state will fully fund the education of students wishing to become teachers.