Dimitri Shashkini: “Who refuses to read the books”?!

The President announced the new initiative at the government session in Kutaisi – all first graders will receive the laptops. The reaction of the society was dissimilar. One part thinks, the president wants to replace the books with the laptops. The representatives of opposition parties evaluated this initiative especially negatively.  They began to speak about the new ventures of the President. “Kviris Palitra” tried to reveal this question with the Minister of Education and Science, Dimitri Shahskini.

Dimitri Shashkini, the Minister of Education and Science:  - The government of Georgia has been presenting the first graders with the textbooks for several years, besides they are the members of vulnerable families, or not. I think this principle is not very justifiable. If the child enters the school and I have the opportunity to buy the textbooks for him, why must the government buy the books for these children?

The million and a half GEL is necessary to buy the textbooks for all first graders. The government of Georgia has decided to allocate the funds of 8 million GEL and buy the books for the schoolchildren of all graders of the vulnerable families. Additionally, all first graders will be presented with the laptops, provided with internet connection and the programs for loading the textbooks. The laptops are specially created for the schoolchildren and 40 thousand schoolchildren will receive them from 2011. The members of the family as well as the children can use this computer. We will award all excellent 10^th graders with these laptops.

The President announced the books are not necessary any more. . .

The president said, the textbooks are being available to upload in these computers. If the parent has no opportunity to buy the textbooks, the child can read the electronic version of the books in the computers. The parents, who wish to buy the books for their children, they will do that. Who refuses to read the books?!

We must give the children opportunity to study the educational programs in the computers, if their parents have no possibility to buy the books.

The children study not only with the textbooks. They have to read much literature. The parents are obliged to choose the books for them.

The President said, the schoolchildren, who have no possibility to buy the books, are being given the chance to receive the education alternatively.

Have the specialists discussed the abilities of the first graders to adopt the educational program in the computer?

The Ministry cooperates with the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs. Besides all other things, we present the first graders with the textbooks.

Does it mean, the textbooks are going to be excluded from the Georgian educational system?

We have begun the program of the library renovation at schools and the exclusion of textbooks cannot happen. The computer is the opportunity to study better and make the educational process more diverting. Creating the National Curriculum is underway. The doctors, psychologists and the pediatricians are involved in this process. If we do not broadcast these people in TV, it doesn’t mean they are not working.  More than 100 experts take participation in this process. I have got two children. One is 6 years old. He began to use the computer when he was 4 years old. I don’t think he is doing anything bad.

The previous reform was frustrated. So, it is logical to ask some questions. . .

It is not frustrated. The students were entering the higher educational institutions with the support of their aunts, uncles etc. 5 years ago. Now they pass the exams on their own.  Does it mean the reform was   frustrated? There were several mistakes, but everybody, who works, makes mistakes. The education is the priority for our country. According to the logic of so called experts, we must burn all computers we presented to schools. These remind me my grandmother, who was not allowing me to watch the TV more than an hour. She was talking this in 80-ies years.

What affects will bring the adoption of the educational material through the computers on the health and the psychics of the first graders? What is the opinion of the specialists?

The specialists say the 9kg weight of the textbooks cause the spine harm. I want to give advice the opponents of this innovation, what if they ask the vulnerable families, what do they prefer – studying through the computers or do not study at all?

Buying the books is in connection with the educational reform. The program changes every year. The children cannot use the books, published the previous year.

The problem of the textbooks will be solved for the 2012 year. At the first level, the textbooks will not change for 5 years. The new national curriculum envisages the restriction of the textbook approval. So, the schools will receive the best textbooks. The 60% of the components will be defined (this means, the 60% of the schools will teach according to the joint educational program). The cross level of the 60% will improve the situation. But I want to note, the teachers will maintain the opportunity of choosing the textbooks.

It means, the books are still necessary and the computers cannot replace them. . .

I can’t understand this issue differently. How do you think, is it possible to study without textbooks. The child cannot learn reading and writing without books.

I wanted to ask this question to you. . .

People have the right of the free choice. Nobody can compel them to choose the computers instead of the books or vice versa. We are talking about the chance - if the family cannot buy the books for their children, they will have the opportunity to receive the education besides all other things.

Khatuna Paichadze