Newspaper “24 Hours”,  May 7, 2010

High Salary for Qualified Teachers

Author Nino Barabadze

Two new projects Teach for Georgia and Qualified Teachers in the Regional Schools of Ethnic Minorities have launched in the Ministry of Education and Science. In order to give the children similar possibilities of education, teachers, being selected according to the competition, will be sent in mountainous and ethnic minority regions of Georgia. Teachers involved in the first project will receive additionally 500 GEL besides the salary and 1000 GEL fellowship will be allocated for the teachers, involved in the second project.

By the announcement of the representatives of the Ministry, limited subjects will be taught at mountainous regions. The goal of the second project is to teach Georgian Language and Literature in regional non-Georgian schools of ethnic minorities.

Dimitri Shashkini, Minister of Education and Science: “UNESCO selected Georgia as the Vice-President country because education is available for every child in Georgia.

According to the President’s announcement, regardless of social status, address or ethnicity, every child should have possibility to receive high quality education. Therefore, our goal is to make Georgian education in compliance with high standards and to give all children opportunity to receive it. Unfortunately, lack of qualified subject matter teachers exists in mountainous regions of Georgia. 

The government finances around 700 small schools in Georgia. Ministry provides them with all necessary payments. Besides, the deficit of qualified teachers exists in these schools. Therefore, the Ministry decided to offer new projects to the teachers, who are willing to teach in mountainous regions. The teachers will have opportunity to teach these subjects, they have no teachers. Besides their salary which amounts to 300-400 GEL, they will receive additionally 500 GEL.

Many talented schoolchildren, who study in the schools of mountainous regions, need particular attention. For example, last year the best results in Unified Entry Exams showed the graduates from Racha region. So we have to support these regions with qualified teachers. 

Ministry of Education and Science pays particular attention to the regional schools of ethnic minorities and supports teaching Georgian Language perfectly. Therefore, experienced teachers of Georgian Language and Literature will be sent in Samtskhe-Dgavakheti and Qvemo Qartli.  Teachers, who will pass the competition successfully, will receive additionally 1000 GEL.

Dimitri Shashkini: “The project is very important as receiving higher education for these children depends on the knowledge of Georgian language, so Georgian language should be taught there perfectly. By the President’s initiative, enrolment of the graduates from ethnic minority regions will be decided according to the results of General Ability Exams. They will pass them in their national language. These students will pass one year Georgian language courses at higher educational institutions in order to continue studying at desired specialties in Georgian.

The project is very important also for integration of ethnic minorities in society and for good relations, we have with Armenia and Azerbaijan. Almost three weeks ago, my colleague Armen Ashotian visited Georgia. He expressed gratitude for these programs. For the first time in Georgian-Armenian history, the faculty of Georgian Language will be established at Yerevan State Institute of Foreign Languages. Georgian professors will give classes at this institute. I want to underline, special centers will be established, where teachers will teach parents too who will be willing to study Georgian language. The lessons will be given after educational process.”

Teachers will begin to work in mountainous regions and regional schools of ethnic minorities from the next academic year. Before then, they will have to pass planned certification exams. besides the subject knowledge, they will have to express general teaching abilities.

Teachers of Georgian Language and Literature, mathematics and foreign languages will pass the certification exams at the first level. If the teacher of different subject will express willingness to participate in Teach for Georgia and Qualified Teachers in the Regional Schools of Ethnic Minorities projects, they will have to pass general ability tests. Representatives of the Ministry hope, young specialists will express willingness to participate in the competition. Barriers will not prevent them.  Any willing candidate, who has teaching experience minimum one year, will have opportunity to participate in the certification exams by the decision of the Ministry.