Mikheil Chkhenkeli, the candidate running for the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, addressed the joint committees of the Parliament and introduced important projects implemented in the field of general education to the public.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli stressed the importance of the involvement of teachers in the process of successful implementation of distance learning in schools and thanked them for their fruitful, dedicated work during the pandemic.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli: “The contribution of teachers is especially significant during the pandemic, in overcoming the challenges in the education system and in maintaining the continuity and quality of education.

I would also like to thank the teachers and professors for their immensely devoted work, together with our renowned doctors, they stand on the front lines and represent the heroes of modernity.

To support teachers, the Ministry has provided an e-learning resource platform and provided necessary training to accustom teachers to new distance learning methods. There were also 130 webinars for general and vocational teachers, in which more than 20,000 teachers participated, and up to 16,000 teachers received training for Microsoft services.

From 2021, the state budget envisages an increase in teacher compensation. At the same time, the path of professional development of special teachers and their salary policy were defined. "

It is noteworthy that over the next four years, budget funding for general education will increase significantly, including the increase in remuneration of teachers and school administrative staff.

In his speech, the ministerial candidate noted that the general policy is to make the general education system decentralized, and to give schools more autonomy. The teaching and learning methodology is ever-changing, which contributes to the development of critical, complex thinking in students. “It is important for us that schools are fully equipped with modern technologies so that our young people can receive the appropriate education of the XXI century. Additionally, it is planned to revise the national curriculum of the secondary level education and to introduce a distance learning course of Georgian language for the representatives of the diaspora in 2021.” – stated the candidate.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli focused on the development of inclusive education and programs implemented in this direction. One of the most successful programs was the introduction of State Program for Monitoring Children Out of School, and the ongoing process to identify such children. The full piloting procedure will begin in 2021.

Additionally, in his speech, the Ministerial candidate focused on the introduction of a game-based educational platform in schools, particularly, the "Minecraft Education Edition", the pilot project of which involves up to 100 teachers and more than 1,500 students in V-X grades throughout Georgia.

Furthermore, Mikheil Chkhenkeli discussed the modernization of school textbooks. According to him, the certification process for VIII grade textbooks has already been completed. Moreover, the Ministry is developing a document on "Digital Transformation Policy" and it is planned to develop an electronic resources platform relevant to modern challenges in 2021.

The ministerial candidate noted that in order to develop effective school management, the ministry has developed a new standard for school principals, and at the same time, work is in-progress to introduce differentiated approaches to school management through legislation.

As for ensuring the safety of students at schools, according to the ministerial candidate, this year the bailiff services entered to additional 19 public schools. It is our duty to create a non-violent learning environment. Also, a 24-hour psychological helpline was established for parents and starting from 2021, all resource officers will begin the process of introducing a school mediation mechanism.