Mikheil Batiashvili: "With the introduction of the 'New School Model', we must achieve high results at the level of each individual school and class"

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia Mikheil Batiashvili, together with the implementation team of the "General Education Reform Support" program, met with the directors of those schools that are joining the project starting today within the framework of the "New School Model".

Mikheil Batiashvili introduced ongoing reforms to the school directors and noted that the "New School" model is one of the most important parts of the reform, which is successfully proceeding in schools and is focused not only on the transfer of knowledge, but on the development of critical and complex thinking in students.

At the meeting, the Minister emphasized the goal of the project itself and the expected results, noting that dedication and cooperation are of utmost importance during the project implementation process — in schools where the involvement of directors is high, the results are exceptionally high as well.

"We are doing everything so that in a few years we can achieve a completely new education system. The 'New School Model' project is already very successful, and I am sure that in a few years this will certainly be reflected in future generations. We are always ready to stand by your side, because our goal is to achieve high results at the level of every school and classroom," Mikheil Batiashvili stated at the meeting with the directors.

Another 100 public schools will join the "New School Model" starting today. Accordingly, the purpose of the informational meeting with school directors is both to familiarize the management of the newly joined public schools with the planned activities and to mutually share expectations.

From the 1st semester of the 2019-2020 academic year, the implementation of the project will begin in 100 public schools of Adjara, Guria, Abkhazia, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi, Kvemo Svaneti, Imereti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kakheti, Shida and Kvemo Kartli.

The mission of the project is to establish a person-centered educational environment in schools, which will enable every teenager to realize their potential and equip them with the knowledge necessary to meet the challenges of the 21st century. In addition, the goal of the project is to develop school culture and improve the quality of teaching and learning. To achieve these goals, support groups created within the framework of the project will work with teachers in the following main directions:

• On the development and implementation of a school curriculum based on constructivist educational principles;
• On the development of effective school management approaches;
• On the integration of digital technologies in the teaching and learning process.

In order to facilitate these processes, schools will be fully covered with WiFi and provided with computer equipment.

The "New School Model" project will be implemented phased across all public schools in Georgia until 2024.