“One of the primary goals of the Georgian government is the advancement of professional education. It is imperative that professional education is accessible to all and meets the local as well as international demands of the labor market” - stated Giorgi Amilakhvari, the nominee for the Minister of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia, during the joint session of the Committees on Education, Science, and Youth Affairs, Culture, Sports, Healthcare, and Social Affairs. 

Discussing vocational education, the ministerial candidate emphasized the importance of developing educational programs and enhancing student employment opportunities. 

"The number of work-based and market-driven vocational training and retraining programs will increase, leading to higher employment rates for vocational education graduates. Moreover, the scope of integrated programs will expand. It's worth noting that budgetary financing for professional education will increase, and a results-based financing model for professional education will be implemented” -  explained Giorgi Amilakhvari. 

Emphasizing the significance of establishing public-private partnerships and jointly implementing professional educational programs with representatives from the business sector, Giorgi Amilakhvari outlined plans to introduce participatory management models for educational institutions. This approach aims to integrate businesses into the skills ecosystem and improve the provision of vocational education. 

According to Giorgi Amilakhvari, vocational standards will be reviewed with input from industry unions and the private sector. By the end of 2025, all professional standards will be developed or updated in accordance with a new methodology. Additionally, new qualifications developed in collaboration with the private sector will be introduced to meet labour market demands. 

"We will approve the professional standard for vocational education teachers and implement a new model for their training, entry into the profession, and continuous professional development. Vocational education teachers will also undergo training in line with international standards” - added Giorgi Amilakhvari. 

The ministerial candidate elaborated on measures to enhance college management effectiveness, including bolstering the qualifications of college directors, restructuring institutions, and aligning the vocational education system with its priorities. Plans to internationalize the professional education system include launching international certification opportunities and implementing international exchange programs. Furthermore, various electronic systems will be introduced to streamline vocational education management processes, making them more flexible and automated.