Journalists of the Associated Press interviewed the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Dimitri Shashkini, who is currently paying an official visit to USA.
In his interview, the Minister discussed the democratic reforms that are being implemented in Georgia, focusing particularly on the Georgian educational system. The Minister spoke about the successful project “Teach and Learn with Georgia” that has been successfully implemented for the last two years. By the end of this year, 1,500 volunteer teachers will have arrived in Georgia. Students of Georgia are now learning English language starting in the first grade. Successful schoolchildren are sent to English summer schools in Georgia and Britain. The teaching of the English language is also reinforced on higher education level. Libraries with English language teaching materials have been opened in many schools.
The implementation of Georgia's new E-strategy will start next year, and the instruction of IT technologies will be enhanced at schools; schools will be supplied with smart boards, and 100 classes will be opened with modern innovative equipments (so called: “Future Classes"). Special software programs will also be developed and educational computer games will be integrated in all subjects. Teachers will be fully trained in their respective subjects and new textbooks will be elaborated upon. Sixty-thousand first graders and their teachers will receive net-books as gifts from the Georgian government.
Improving school infrastructure is one of the most important parts of the present educational reforms. In 2011, 350 public schools were rehabilitated, and 10 new schools, a teachers’ house, an examination center, several information centers, and three vocational colleges were built in Georgia. 40 million GEL will be allocated in the 2012 budget for school infrastructure upgrades and development; twenty new schools, vocational colleges, a technological university and twoinformation centers will be constructed, and 100,000 new school desks, 5,000 boards, and 25,000 computers will be supplied to schools.
These topics were covered by the Minister in his interview with the journalists of the Associated Press.
