I am going to stay here long… - “24 Saati” ( 24 Hours)

Interview with a newly elected Minister of Education and Science of Georgia

“24 Saati” ( 24 Hours)

 

Dimitri Shashkini is the fourth Minister of Education and Science since the “Rose Revolution”. He plans to make essential changes in the reform that has been the subject of criticism as well as appreciation.

The former Ministers Gia Nodia and Nika Gvaramia looked happy after they had resigned. Do you also think that you will have to cope with a tough job?

Education system is strategically important for our country. We don’t have oil, gas, what we have- is our intellectual resource. Hence, education is the most important sphere. The field itself is very broad. Overall, we have got 2462 schools; among them- 2179 are public schools, besides that, there are 624 560 pupils and 79 866 teachers. On a larger scale, education is a matter of concern for every family and every individual.

The most rapid and successful reforms were carried out in the educational system. Though, this reform has undergone some changes lately and the former supporters started to criticize it. You were appointed as the Minister of Education and Science just a week ago, are there any shortcomings that need to be tackled urgently?

First of all, we have solved the problems that had been considered impossible by many. Now children enter the universities without bribes. Six years ago it seemed unbelievable. At the same time, it is impossible to fix all problems within five, six or even ten years. The biggest challenge we are facing now is a general education: children must have desire to go to school and study and teachers –a desire and ability to teach.

 I have an extensive experience in management and I can assure you that it’s impossible to manage this system with micromanagement. The Ministry should use macro management model – it should define a policy, identify directions and schools and universities should implement the policy and directions set by the Ministry.

In your opinion, what steps should be taken first?

I think that we have finally fixed the problem of examinations as children can enter the universities without bribes. Now we have to motivate children to go to school. The introduction of class registers and methods of punishment are not enough to solve this problem. First of all, children should have a desire to do something and be aware of what they are doing.

In 2011, we will introduce high school exams. That means that school graduates will not have to pass those 4 exams that were necessary to enter a university. After finishing the school, children will pass final examinations; Higher Educational Institutions will choose those subjects that have more priorities for them according to specific faculties. Earlier, a schoolchild finished a school, received a high school diploma and passed three or four exams (By the way this year all children will pass four exams), from 2011 on, children will pass high school examinations. We have not decided yet the exact number of exams - we are still discussing this issue with the experts, teachers and the representatives of Higher Educational Institutions, there may be ten or eight exams but exams will be based on school syllabus and will not be so called final school exams.

 “ If we argue  that a healthy competition between students contributes to their success and development and we organize Olympiads and give medals to successful schoolchildren to encourage them,  why can not we promote a competition among  schools?!”

Yes but, this might incite corruption at schools and eradication of corruption is biggest achievement of the reform…

The thing is that schoolchildren will not take high school exams at school; the network of the National Examinations Center will be expanded as the children will take high school exams at these centers. Higher Educational Institutions themselves will publish a list of the subjects according to the faculties and the results of the exams in these subjects will play a great role in accepting the students to the HEI-s.

The negative side of passing three or four exams is that the 12^th graders go to private tutors and get prepared only for those three or four subjects they are going to pass for entering the universities,  they are not interested in going to school and consequently, their knowledge of other subjects is very poor. In case of 8 or 10 exams, a chance of attending private tutors’ lessons decreases as the schoolchildren will be motivated to go to school and study; the exams will be oriented only on school programs and will cover issues that had been taught during twelve years. Moreover, exams programs will be published in the beginning of the year to avoid any misunderstandings.

 It is obvious, that a minimal level competency will be set for each subject. In case a pupil does not wish to take high school exams, he/she will receive only high school leaving certificate, therefore will not be able to continue studying at the Higher Educational Institutions.

 General education has its own importance, therefore, schoolchildren must not only study those subject they need to pass to be accepted at the HEI-s– they should have knowledge of entire school program. It does not mean that all students must receive excellent marks in physics, history, chemistry and mathematics at the same time, but everyone should have basic knowledge in all subjects. Nevertheless, we do have schoolchildren who demonstrate an excellent knowledge in all subjects and we encourage them with golden medals.

 “We will see the first important result of the second phase of the reform in 2011 when we will introduce high school exams.  This means that school graduates will not have to pass those 4 exams that were necessary to enter the Universities.”

 It is a future plan and students graduating schools this year will pass four exams, unlike the previous year. This decision has been greatly criticized and regarded as a mean of stimulation of tutors.

 The students will pass four exams in 2010 and in my opinion; it is a fair and a right decision. What is more important it will help us to getting prepared for 2011 high school exams.

You have mentioned that the high school exam program will be published a year earlier- in the beginning of the academic year. Variety of textbooks and their frequent change might cause some problems in this regard, what do you think ?

The former Minister Nika Gvaramia has already solved the problem of approving textbooks, but society at large has not been informed on this issue. It is a right approach that teachers choose textbooks themselves; it is not our job to dictate them which one is better. We shall forbid their frequent changes. We have set certain standards for school editions and extended the time period of using the textbooks up to 5 years.  In many cases, the textbook the elder child uses eventually becomes useless for a younger one. I think it is not fair and that is why we extended the time period of using the textbooks up to 5 years. Some teachers utilize non-approved books and that is another concern as well.

 And as far as I know using of these textbooks is not forbidden. . .

 From now on, it will be strictly prohibited. In this regard, the position of the Ministry is clear. If a teacher does not use approved textbooks, she has to explain the reason; if her reasoning is groundless she will be punished. This is within the interests of a child and the state itself.

We should also develop a concept of branding schools. If we argue that a healthy competition between students contributes to their success and development and we organize Olympiads and give medals to successful schoolchildren to encourage them, why can not we promote a competition among schools? We can achieve the same results with introducing branding of the schools.

We will permanently nominate the best school in the region, the best school in the city, etc. Our coworkers are just working on developing criteria of assessment; supposedly, schools will be assessed by the Public Boards or respective audit companies. A greater importance will be given to the outcomes – each school should strive to attain the best possible position through continual development and introduction of innovations at schools. I still do not know which school is the best in Georgia. A school should not be assessed according to its material and technical facilities; instead, it shall be evaluated according to autonomic innovative learning programs, its active engagement in various extracurricular activities and management.

As a result of the reform, school boards got actively involved in a school management process. Is that really efficient? It is known that school boards functions are just formal and schools are still managed by the principals.

By the way, school branding will add much to further enhancing the functions of the school boards. Initiatives have to come from them. First of all, school boards are comprised of the parents and they will be interested in school progress. You have asked me why this reform is so complex. Because it consists of many components. We can not talk separately about teachers, parents or principals. If we do not consider all these components as a whole, we will not get any result. We are also planning to launch “Alumni club” project in Georgia. Alumni Club successfully operates in the West. What is the goal of this project? We can not allow collecting money in schools – this is a source of corruption. But instead we propose the following scheme: I finished school #52 and for 11 years I have been working for American corporation. I was one of those top highest paid managers in Georgia and now I am capable of helping my school. A school should have a d right to write a letter to me asking if I wish to provide any assistance to it. In case I wish to help, why should not I reconstruct a classroom for my school, or donate the books to a school library or purchase some school desks?! This would be a demonstration of my personal attitude towards the school I had been studying for 11 years. Of course, this support should be voluntary. Such institutions operate in the U.S.A, Europe. And   it is called a patronage.

Another important issue we are currently working on is school programs. I have given strict instructions to the experts working in this direction to draft feasible programs. That means that unattainable criteria should not be set. For example, let us take the field of music - we should not set criteria achievable only by talented people, like Beethoven.

Ministers have been changing frequently, what do you think will you be able to fulfill all your plans?

I am going to stay here long and I have to realize a lot of plans and projects. Some of my plans need several months to be fulfilled, others- a year, or maybe more, but all of them will be accomplished. Besides, we are going to encourage pupils to learn mathematics, foreign languages and computer programs. It does not mean that other subjects are less important but we are having some problems in these subjects and much more work needs to be done in this regard. We should carefully examine methodologies of these subjects: lack of resources might be yet another reason why children are having trouble to deal with these subjects. There are a lot of other issues that need to be tackled as well. For example, nutrition at school. This is a very important issue and  to a certain extent is connected to safety problems …

You mentioned a safety of the school; what measures are you going to take to stop violence at schools?

 Providing a safe school environment is a complex issue, it consists of many components. I will begin with the simplest one that I have already mentioned – school cafeterias.  So far it is just an idea and I have to discuss it with business companies and bank representatives. The idea is to introduce an outsourcing mechanism – that is to hold private companies responsible for administering the school cafeterias. It will be a profitable business for them, while we will control catering standards. We will also need a support from the banks to introduce credit cards system at schools to prohibit cash flow. We used to give money to our children and did not know how they spent it. There was a likelihood of taking this money from them; besides that money could have become a source of a fight among schoolchildren. Introducing credit cards system will give us opportunity to put money on their cards, the children will not be able to withdraw money for any purposes other than spending it only in school cafeterias. Moreover, these cards will be personal and other persons will not be able to use it. So with the introduction of the credit cards system at schools we will eliminate one of the components causing violence at schools. A lot of positive projects are already being implemented at schools:  prosecutor’s office representatives hold regular dialogues with the school children, explaining them what the crime is. This process should continue. I also think that it is necessary to create security zones at schools, we have already created them in several schools but it should be extended to all schools in the future. There will be special territories in the schools that will be controlled by cameras. Children will know that they will be protected from aggression in that territory. So far I can not tell you more on that project.

In the beginning of the interview you talked about the importance of attending classes and acquiring maximum knowledge from learning programs at schools. There is another important component – properly trained and qualified teachers. Taking teachers certification exams was compulsory in the beginning of the reform but now it has been postponed for uncertain period…

I understand it but at the same time I am aware that due to the lack of financial resources in the state budget, we are unable to pay teachers appropriate salary. I would be very happy if I could do that, but we must also remember that salaries were raised twice as much during 2009. Besides, we are implementing an insurance program for teachers, within the scope of this program, around 82000 teachers and representatives of school administration will receive insurance package with approximate cost of 25000 GEL. Being appointed as the Minister, I said that teachers and schoolchildren will be my priority…

That is why you were criticized and this criticism was not groundless. The main focus of the educational system and reform is a pupil; teachers of course, should be qualified enough to teach them. Do not you think so?

We should do everything to motivate teachers to teach. Our Government is doing its best to properly appreciate the teachers work. As for the teacher professional development, because of the lack of communications and time not all teachers can enhance their skills and knowledge, Georgian government takes these factors into account and offers them a special scheme of trainings. Teachers choose the subjects themselves as well as a provider company that will conduct the trainings. New wave of voluntary certification exams will begin in summer and about 25% of teachers will participate in this process- this is not small number. Our aim is to demonstrate how important the teacher’s certification is. We are doing our best to enhance the professional development of teachers. The government has allocated quite reasonable material resources for this purpose.

Only those teachers who are interested in upgrading their professional skills will be engaged in this voluntary certification process, but there are many teachers who do not have such an interest…

The first stage will be voluntary but in the long run everyone will see that it is a very important process, we will be able to complete it within a few years and all teachers will be certified.

And the most important is that teachers themselves like this process.

And the last question, what changes are you going to implement in regard to the structure of the Ministry? Do you plan to reshuffle your staff?

I do not claim that I am a qualified specialist of literature, mathematics or history, and I as a Minister, am not obliged to be.  I am a manager and I should form a structure that will operate in an automatic regime. I do not say that the current structure was good or bad. It fulfilled its goal and had good results. Now we need more flexible structure to ensure that the decisions are made quickly and implemented transparently.  That is why I acted so quickly and elaborated a new structure within three days. As for the staff reorganization, so far we have only three new employees: Head of General Inspection, my Adviser and my Assistant.

 

Sofiko Chkhaidze