Mikheil Chkhenkeli introduced the planned innovations in the system to the MPs

At the parliamentary committee hearing regarding the vote of confidence in the Government, Mikheil Chkhenkeli delivered a comprehensive speech and spoke about the planned changes within the system.

Raising the Quality of Education and Bringing it in Line with International Standards:

At the parliamentary committee hearing regarding the vote of confidence in the Government, Mikheil Chkhenkeli focused on the necessity of universal accessibility at all levels of education. According to the Minister, today the primary objective for the development of the educational system is to raise the quality of education, bring it into compliance with international standards, and ensure inclusion at every level of education.

To overcome the existing problems in general education between urban and rural schools, the Minister stated that special emphasis will be placed on transforming rural schools into educational centers, which will combine kindergartens, schools, vocational educational programs, libraries, sports, and creative clubs. In regions populated by ethnic minorities, special attention will be paid to learning the state language. However, along with teenagers, the adult population will also be able to participate in educational activities. 

Cooperation Between the State and the Family in the Fight Against Violence and Aggression:

Mikheil Chkhenkeli once again emphasized that an intolerant fight against bullying and all forms of violence in schools is one of the main priorities of the Ministry, and a large-scale campaign in this direction has already been launched together with industry specialists and qualified psychologists.

According to the Minister, psychologists are actively working in schools; however, psychological services within the system will be further strengthened. The assistance of experienced and caring specialists will be accessible to every student, as the goal of the Ministry is not only to respond to manifestations of violence, but first and foremost, to prevent it.

According to the Minister, proper information for students, teachers, and parents is essential to curb violence and bullying. Accordingly, within the framework of the information campaign, they will be provided with comprehensive explanations and recommendations. The Minister believes that in order to clearly see and solve problems, the involvement of children and a continuous dialogue with them is necessary. Therefore, a cycle of meetings with students entitled "Let's Listen to Students" has already been launched.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli believes that in the fight against violence and aggression, the state and the family must stand side by side, because we must all care together to create a friendly environment for teenagers inside and outside of school. 

Supplements for Leading and Mentor Teachers Will Increase Starting from 2018:

Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Mikheil Chkhenkeli believes that the teacher plays the most crucial role in the educational process. Accordingly, all conditions will be created for them to raise their qualifications, and this will be focused not only on theory, but on the development of practical skills.

In order to increase the motivation for professional development, the Minister stated that starting from 2018, supplements for leading and mentor teachers will increase significantly. In addition, bureaucratic procedures will be minimized so that teachers can devote their time entirely to professional development.

At the same time, the monitoring of teachers' qualifications will be carried out continuously and comprehensively. The internal and external evaluation mechanisms will be refined, with the aim of identifying and properly appreciating the best.

Engaging Children and Teenagers in Sports:

Mikheil Chkhenkeli once again emphasized the establishment of a healthy lifestyle in schools, which has been one of the top priorities of the Ministry since his appointment. According to him, everything will be done to ensure that children and teenagers spend their energy on education, creative activities, and sports.

According to the Minister, a large-scale campaign supporting a healthy lifestyle in schools has already begun, and in 2018 this campaign will cover all schools – students of all ages will participate in sports competitions according to their wishes and interests.

In addition, significant investments will be made in the development of school educational and sports infrastructure and the construction of new schools.

Top-Ranked Professionals, Scientists, and Researchers Will Be Involved in the Educational Process at the School Level:

While speaking in Parliament, Mikheil Chkhenkeli talked about the new project "Eureka", the goal of which is to interest teenagers in science. 

According to the Minister, in order to deepen students' interest, develop critical thinking, and prepare them for the next stages of learning, the connection between school and university will be strengthened, which implies the involvement of top-ranked professionals, scientists, and researchers in the educational process.

Furthermore, within the framework of the "Eureka" project, well-known scientists and educators from various fields will conduct online lessons. Access to distance learning will be available to all public and private schools in Georgia. This teaching cycle will also provide an opportunity for professional development for teachers of the respective subjects.

Inclusive Education:

According to the Minister, the necessity of inclusive education is closely linked to the interests of society's development. Important steps have already been taken to develop inclusive learning at the general and vocational education stages, but there are still numerous challenges in this regard. To address them, the profession of a special education teacher will be regulated and developed at the legislative level, the training of special education teachers in universities will be strengthened, and the funding model will be revised alongside the implementation of infrastructural measures.

Unscheduled Inspection of Universities:

Mikheil Chkhenkeli also focused on specific, actionable steps to ensure the high quality of higher education.  

According to the Minister, unscheduled inspections of universities will take place, and non-compliance with authorization standards will become grounds for suspending student admissions for higher education institutions.

A model compatible with the Council of Europe's higher education standards will be enacted. With the support of the World Bank, a new, much more effective mechanism for financing higher education will be developed.

Great attention will be paid to the introduction of distance learning, which implies both utilizing the resources of foreign professors and providing the opportunity for Georgian professors to deliver online lectures abroad. 

It Will Become Possible to Obtain a Document Equivalent to a School Diploma Based on Vocational Education:

In the direction of vocational education, Mikheil Chkhenkeli focused on raising the qualifications of every citizen and creating conditions to master a new profession. In addition, he emphasized tailoring vocational education to the economic needs of specific regions and continuing dual, work-based learning. 

In the near future, the infrastructure, material-technical base of vocational educational institutions will be developed, and geographical coverage will be expanded.

Based on a new legislative initiative, the process of integrating the fields of vocational and general education will begin. Activities developing vocational skills at the basic learning level, and full-fledged vocational education in high schools, will help teenagers get closer to the employment sector.

Connections between vocational and higher education will be developed, and mechanisms for recognizing prior and non-formal education will be introduced.

Teenagers who do not have a general education diploma and wish to receive vocational education will be able to obtain a certificate equivalent to a school diploma after the introduction of special programs.

Special Emphasis Will Be Placed on Encouraging Young Scientists:

The Ministry will place special emphasis on encouraging young scientists. Both the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation and the Ministry will finance additional grant competitions to encourage young scientists.

While previously competitions in fundamental and applied research were announced alternately, skipping a year, on the initiative of the Ministry, competitions for both types of research will be announced annually from now on.

According to the Minister, participation in programs such as the European Union's research and innovation program "Horizon 2020" is of utmost importance; existing international grant projects will be strengthened, and new programs will be sought out.

Given that the scientific diaspora can make an invaluable contribution to the full integration of Georgia into the global scientific community, the Ministry will actively work in this direction as well.

Youth Policy:

Regarding youth policy, Mikheil Chkhenkeli stated that the main emphasis will be placed on the development of non-formal education. To this end, the Ministry will promote the activities of winter and summer science schools, the popularization of science, and study trips to international scientific centers.

Accessibility to youth and student camps will be increased. The intellectual component will be strengthened. Special attention will be paid to exact and natural sciences, arts, and sports directions.  In addition, Georgian students will have the opportunity to go to international camps, and we will also host foreign students in Georgian camps, which will help teenagers make friends and develop youth diplomacy.

According to the Minister, the Ministry desires that Abkhazian and Ossetian teenagers also actively participate in all camps organized in Georgia or abroad.