November 29, newspaper “24 Hours”

What is Envisaged in Teachers’ Professional Scheme?

Gvantsa Kilasonia

For the first time in Georgia, Teachers’ Professional Scheme will be launched. An order that will be approved by the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia envisages teachers’ professional development. It will automatically advance the quality of general education. Innovation covers career growth and therefore, material encouragement. At this level, the document will concern around 1,300 certified teachers after entering into force. But the number of teachers will be increased after the second round of certification.

One of the best possibilities to advance quality of general education is improvement of teachers’ qualification and skills. MES considered teachers’ certification as one of these mechanisms. Certification was held in summer, 2010.  Teachers passed exam in their own subject and skills. Teachers who received 10,5 in each exam and gathered 21 credits, were awarded with certificates. Though, teachers should permanently work and assist the schoolchildren, colleagues and make contribution in upbringing the future generation. MES developed unique system of encouragement.

Several experts worked on the document, developed by the National Center for Teacher Professional Development. Foreign teachers of 7 different countries positively evaluated the project. In the nearest future, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Dimitri Shashkini will approve Scheme of Professional Development.

According to the newly developed document, renewing of teachers’ right, awarding category, number of obligatory credits and opportunities of gathering these credits are envisaged in the professional development scheme. The aim is to improve teaching/learning level, advancement of teachers’ competency level, professional development and career growth.

Three categories of teachers were defined according to the professional development scheme: first, second and high category teachers. Teachers, who successfully passed the certification exam and gathered 21 credits, will automatically receive status of the second category. If he/she wishes to become teacher of the first category, he/she should gather 28 credits during 7 years. In order to become the teacher of the high category, 42 credits should be gathered.

Counting of the credits will begin from the initial level for the teacher of each category, who will decide to move on another level. If he/she receives less than needed scores, he/she will lose category and will be demoted. Certified teachers who are involved in the scheme should take part in 17-7 different activities in order to gather credits during 7 years (different activities envisage different amount of credits).

Teachers will receive 1 credit for participating in the training-programs and workshops (25 hours – 1 credit) organized by MES, different organizations or international seminars. Delivering speech at educational conferences and seminars amounts to 1 credit. If the teacher uses the status of participator, he/she will receive 0,5 credit. In order to pass professional internship abroad or in the country for sharing and learning subject competency and experience, (minimum 25 hours) participant will gather 1 credit.  Working as a mentor-teacher as well as organizing presentations for sharing knowledge and experience, also envisages 1 credit in a year (minimum 3 presentations in 7 years).Teachers should present video record.

Activities at subject matter faculty also mean gathering 1 credit. For example, planning and giving integrated lesson along with the teacher of other subject (minimum 3 lessons) or representing reviewed topic (teachers should represent video record). Teachers will receive 1 credit if their schoolchild wins National Olympiads and competitions (minimum 3 victories during 7 years, individual/group).

Author of minimum 2 educational projects will receive 2 credits during 7 years. 2 credits are envisaged for academic articles on educational, professional, pedagogic topics in educational-pedagogic newspaper-journals (minimum 3 articles during 7 years). Teacher will be added 2 credits, if his/her schoolchild wins international Olympiads and competitions (minimum 3 victories during 7 years, individual/group).

Teachers who work with the Children With Special Needs and educators who use informational technologies during the teaching process will receive also 2 credits.

Authors of minimum 3 researches on educational topic will receive 3 credits during 7 years. Creating the textbook envisages the highest score – 7 credits. Methodological textbook envisages 3 credits.

Teachers will receive some privileges by gathering credits. For example: as it is already defined, teachers should gather 21 credits in the certification exams in order to receive certificate that will be maintained during 8 years. But, if the teacher gathers these 21 credits by different activities, he/she is exempted from the exam. If he/she gathers 11 credits, he/she should take only one - subject matter exam. If he/she receives 28 credits, he/she will become the teacher of the first category. The same principle works for the high category teachers.

Dimitri Shashkini, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia: MES is responsible for advancing education level that is impossible without advancing teachers’ qualification.  Teachers’ certification is not only one-time campaign. Certification is very profitable for qualification but teachers should improve their activities day by day during the next 7 years.”

Involvement of the teachers in the Teachers’ Professional Development Scheme is great stimulus, career perspective and the best possibility of encouragement that is wished by everyone. Exactly this scheme enables the teachers to become professionals as the schoolchildren as well as teachers improve their knowledge day by day.

The system gives opportunity to launch mechanism of particular encouragement in terms of awards, material support or trainings abroad. This will influence on the prestige of the teacher as well.

Teachers should apply in the education resource center in order to participate in Professional Development Scheme. Registration will be held two times a year, in October and April of each year.