Irina Abuladze spoke with Lawrence Meredith about introducing the European School model in public schools
Irina Abuladze, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, who is visiting Brussels as part of the Georgian delegation, met with Lawrence Meredith, Director for Neighbourhood East and Institution Building at the European Commission, to discuss the European School project within Georgia's general education system and the introduction of the European model in public schools.
During the meeting with the European Commission representative, discussions focused on the opening of the first European School in Georgia. According to Irina Abuladze, the model of this school will be transferred to Georgian public schools, as the introduction of European approaches, values, and standards in schools is one of the Ministry's main priorities. Consequently, both teacher training and the creation of educational resources will be implemented precisely in accordance with these standards, and the Ministry maintains close and ongoing cooperation with European colleagues in this process.
The meeting also emphasized the ongoing "New School Model" project, which involves the development and implementation of student-centered curricula, the integration of digital technologies into the teaching and learning process, and the creation of an assessment system that promotes progress and development.
The pilot, first phase of the European School started in 2018 on the basis of the "New School". A dormitory was also built on the same territory, with construction fully funded by the European Commission. Starting in 2019, 75 students aged 16-17, selected from partner countries through appropriate competitive conditions, will study in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The first European School in Georgia represents the first precedent outside the European Union. It is noteworthy that the establishment of this school is one of the objectives of the European Union within the framework of the Eastern Partnership ("Eastern Partnership – 20 Deliverables for 2020"). The school aims to offer students from the six partner countries (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Ukraine) high-quality European education based on a multicultural environment and fundamental values, which will enhance their employment opportunities. All of this is in line with the comprehensive education reform that has been underway in Georgia for over a year.
