Working meeting to ensure effective and inclusive vocational education
The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, in cooperation with the United Kingdom's Good Governance Fund (GGF), hosted a working meeting to discuss the current financing scheme for vocational education and training (VET) along with international best practices. The objective of the meeting was to reach a consensus regarding the VET financing policy in both the medium and long-term perspectives.
The meeting was opened by Giorgi Vashakidze, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia; Tamta Shermadini, PwC Director and Head of the GGF team in Georgia; and Oliver Diss, GGF Project Manager. It was attended by representatives of the Ministry, the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, vocational and higher education institutions, as well as donor and international organizations.
“Our goal is to establish effective mechanisms for financing vocational education and training, thereby contributing to the increased popularity and attractiveness of vocational education among the population, improving the quality of VET through the active involvement of employers, and establishing dynamic and diversified services within the vocational education system. Furthermore, the internal efficiency of this system must be enhanced. The VET policy should promote Georgia's economic development, social inclusion, and lifelong learning, as well as aligning Georgia's vocational education and training system with the European Higher Education Area,” stated Giorgi Vashakidze, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport.
The Unified Strategy for Education and Science of Georgia (2017-2021) identifies the need for effective VET financing mechanisms as a key priority, which in turn should ensure accessibility to vocational education based on the Lifelong Learning (LLL) principle. Alongside aligning vocational education with labor market demands, the proposed new funding model should facilitate: (a) diversification of funding sources; (b) mobilization of additional funding; (c) private sector engagement; (d) effective distribution of funding among institutions, fields, and programs; and (e) efficient management of vocational education.
According to Tamta Shermadini, Director of Consulting Practice at PwC and Head of the GGF team in Georgia, the new Law on Vocational Education provides for the introduction of a new funding model. In her view, the vocational education system is changing in many countries around the world. It is becoming more flexible, which in turn requires the introduction of diversified financing mechanisms. VET financing is based on cost-sharing between the state, employers, and students: “At the consultative meeting organized with the support of the UK Good Governance Fund, we expect to agree on the best solution for Georgia in this regard, which in turn should be reflected in the Government Decree on Vocational Education Financing,” stated Tamta Shermadini.
The working meeting was organized within the framework of the UK Good Governance Fund (GGF) project — "Development of Diversified Financing Mechanisms for Georgia's Vocational Education and Training System." The technical assistance project for the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia envisages the development of a diversified VET financing model. A team of international and local experts, through consultations with key stakeholders, will assist the Ministry in developing new, diversified financing mechanisms that will ensure the establishment of an efficient and inclusive VET system. This, in turn, will enable the Government of Georgia to achieve quantitative and qualitative indicators in the provision of vocational education while reducing the mismatch with labor market demands.
