Peculiarities of professional education in Georgia. Education reform in Georgia: “exact calculation” and Ukrainian future

In Ukraine, there is a fashion for Georgia - they study its examples, actively buy up cheap air tickets, and show miracles of "fraternal solidarity". We often talk about the reform of law enforcement agencies, the liberalization of the economy, but not about the education system in Georgia. And this system is also not simple and deserves attention. We spoke with an expert on the subject, Kakhaber Lomadze, leader of the Student Youth Union of Georgia, which lobbies the public interest in education reform.

The path of reforms and transformations

Our organization was founded in 2002, its founders are student associations of universities and colleges operating in our city. The main activity at first was the protection of the rights of students. So even then we were dealing with the problems of education (mainly secondary and higher education). Now this is the main activity of the Student Youth Union (Student-Youth Council).

Now Ukraine is going through hard times - talk about education and culture does not seem as relevant as war or providing for the army. How do you look at this problem? How did Georgia deal with it?

In Georgia in the 90s there was a similar situation - the Civil War, conflicts with Abkhazia and Ossetia - we also had a time when education and culture were in the background. Alas, this always happens when the situation in the country is tense. "When the guns speak, the Muses are silent." Georgia was able to cope only with the normalization of the situation; Unfortunately, there are no universal recipes.

Of course, at such a time it is impossible to divide problems into small and large. If now you do not pay attention to education and culture, it will already affect later. This happened in Georgia – there was a shortage of qualified personnel, because practically a whole generation did not have the opportunity to get an education.

- Describe the main features of the modern education system in Georgia.

Georgia has come a long way of reforms and transformations. What I like is that there was no fear of experiments. Based on the accumulated experience, changes were made again and again. The Ministry of Education was not afraid to listen to the opinions of experts, representatives of NGOs (non-governmental organizations - ed.) working in this area. At this stage, I would name the main features:

• emphasis on increasing computer literacy in primary school: all first-graders in Georgia receive special laptops;
• since 2013, students receive free textbooks, which are then returned to the school;
• both secondary schools and universities are governed by an elected body (the Board of Trustees, which includes parents, teachers, high school students or students). The council has broad powers: appointment and dismissal of the school principal/rector of the university, approval and control of the school/university budget.

Unfortunately, after 2010, the Ministry of Education regained the right to appoint school directors without the consent of the Board of Trustees and to dismiss its members without prior notice;

• a new school/university funding model – the system of individual funding: money “follows” the pupil or student. So the budget of the school / university depends on the number of students. In relation to universities, this applies to applicants who have successfully passed the entrance exams and received funding from the state (grant). Schools with a small number of students (provincial or highlands) receive an additional subsidy. In universities, of course, there is paid education.
• the introduction of unified entrance exams to universities eradicated corruption in admission. Exams are held on the same day according to a single program. They are conducted by a separate, independent from the Ministry of Education, organization - "National Examination Center";
• improving teaching standards, retraining of personnel, certification of teachers - all this contributes not only to improving the qualifications of the teaching staff, but also to the interest of teachers in it. The salary of the teaching staff is directly related to the certification and obtaining a license for education;
• universities in Georgia undergo mandatory certification, which takes into account not only the qualifications of lecturers, but also the area (the number of students depends on it), the availability of a library, a modern material and technical base, and even a sports ground;
• Also, after the 2010 reform, a security system (mandatory) was organized in schools to maintain discipline for both students and teaching staff. Mandates are under the control of the Ministry of Education and report violations of the rules directly to the head in the Ministry;
• A lot has been done for pupils with disabilities: schools have begun to be equipped with ramps, special toilets, and newly built schools with elevators. Coordinators of inclusive education have begun to work.

The reform was practically carried out by civil society activists

- What world models were the reformers guided by when they built the education system?

I remember that this question was asked to Alexander Lomaia, the minister under whom the reforms began. Unfortunately, I cannot give his full answer, but the main thing is that Georgia did not try to blindly copy examples (even if they were successful), but took all the best, taking into account the specifics of the country. It can be said that Georgia's education reform is a synthesis of European and American models.

To what extent were students, civil society activists involved in choosing the path of development of higher and secondary schools?

Students played an important role in the fact that the reform of universities in Georgia began in general. Various student associations actively opposed the corruption that dominated the institutes.

As for the activists of civil society, one can say that they actually carried out the reform. After the Rose Revolution, a lot of NGO representatives began working in government structures and became the authors of a number of reforms carried out in Georgia. It is good that the Ministry of Education did not meet with hostility the recommendations submitted by members of the public.

I can say that our organization is currently working on recommendations on non-formal education in secondary schools and is preparing to provide them - we have no problems with contacts: both in the schools themselves and in the Ministries.

It is difficult to balance and not go into “ideological education”

In Ukraine, there are proposals to return fifteen minutes of “Political Information” to schools in order to inform schoolchildren about the current political situation. How do you rate such an initiative?

I am personally categorically against it. For elementary grades, this will be incomprehensible (and not necessary), and middle and high school students themselves are able to get information. In our age, when with the help of the Internet it is possible to quickly obtain information, conduct political studies, this is ... a return to the dark past. Even if the proposal is accepted, what are the guarantees that it will not be “ideologically correct information”?

Should the school be engaged in patriotic education? How to find the line between "enlightenment" and "ideology"?

We have been arguing about this for a long time - it is difficult to balance on this thin border and not go into “ideological education”. During Saakashvili's presidency, there was an attempt to introduce the subject "Military Patriotic Education" into the education system. He then transformed into the "Civil Defense". This subject includes issues like road safety (for elementary grades), actions in case of natural disasters ... That is, it is not aimed at warming up “love for the Motherland”, devotion to the Fatherland, the desire to serve the interests and readiness, up to self-sacrifice, for its protection.

In 2004-2012, summer camps for schoolchildren (grades X-XII) were held under the name "Patriot". The stated goal was: “Promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Raising the Patriotic Spirit. Now these youth camps have been transformed into the “Camp of the Future”.

- What would you say about the religious component of education? Should there be some “values” behind it?

Oooh… religion is quite a difficult topic in Georgia. I'm not ready to answer this question.

Terni

- What education would you like to receive if you had a second chance?

Didn't even think about it. Probably, there would be a second chance, I would pay more time and attention to getting an education by informal methods. It's good to have an academic education, but, based on my experience, there are areas in which you can get better and better education through trainings, seminars, distance courses.

I will share a funny story from the Crimea, from where I recently returned. At the courses for school psychologists, experts from St. Petersburg talk about the main problems of modern Russian schools. They say the first problem is child suicide, the second is the bullying of schoolchildren. Crimean psychologists made a noise and started to get indignant - they don't have such problems. In response, the expert shook his head and said convincingly: "Nothing, you are now in Russia - they will." What are the main problems in the modern Georgian school? ;-)

This, of course, is not suicide and bullying - I hope they never will ;-) But, of course, there are problems:

school infrastructure. In the overwhelming majority of buildings, they require major repairs: they do not meet sanitary and hygienic standards. Although many schools have been built and renovated since the beginning of the reforms, this is only a drop in the ocean;

– the quality of education differs significantly between Tbilisi and the rural regions of Georgia;

- the average quality of teaching specific subjects at school. Teaching at the stage of primary education - Georgian, history - is quite good, but the natural sciences (biology, physics, chemistry) are worse. This is due to the lack of the required number of qualified teachers;

- due to the low quality of school education and the high requirements for unified exams in Georgia, there is a large scale of private tutoring;

- after the reform of 2010 - the loss of full independence of schools;

- Another problem is high (for Georgia) tuition fees: an applicant from a socially vulnerable family who has not received a state grant remains without access to higher education.

- Are there mechanisms for cooperation between the education system and the labor market? Business?

Unfortunately, there are no direct mechanisms, as if prescribed at the level of law. But the vast majority of universities themselves establish contacts with the business sector and provide students with the opportunity for internships in their specialty and employment. There are several private universities in Georgia (I don't want to name them, so as not to offend anyone) whose graduates receive an almost 100% job guarantee.

The state, of course, is trying to contribute to facilitating the employment of graduates, research is being carried out to clarify the requirements of the labor market, round tables between representatives of universities and the business sector. There are several faculties (mostly technical) where education is fully paid for by the state. Recently, there has been talk of introducing a law or legal act that would oblige representatives of the business sector and government services to provide places for internships.

What are the opportunities for Ukrainians to get an education in Georgia? What specialties would you recommend?

I know that quite a lot of students from different countries study in Georgia. Unfortunately, I have no data on how many specifically - from Ukraine, or at which faculties they study. According to research, the choice of students is mainly due to the fact that we have low fees, plus a high level of education. Traditionally, studying at a medical university is popular - according to data for 2013, about 1,000 students from 27 countries studied here. The Faculty of Economics of the State University is also popular - in 2014 the number of foreign students almost doubled; The level of education at the Georgian Technical University is always high.

I think that applicants from Ukraine will be able to find a suitable university in Georgia, and not only the state one - we have many private universities with a high level of education.

Photo: social media, racurs.ua, gdb.rferl.org, 21region.org.

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BAKU, Oct 7 - Sputnik, Irada Jalil. The problem of shortage of personnel in schools teaching in the Azerbaijani language in Georgia will become extremely aggravated over the next few years, it is necessary to sound the alarm and act now.

"There are international laws adopted throughout the world, according to which citizens can enter foreign universities without exams, through an interview. But Azerbaijanis who come to study from Georgia are not regarded as foreigners and pass entrance exams," he said.

At the same time, he noted that our compatriots from Georgia, entering Azerbaijani universities, can, as foreigners, study only at a paid department. As a result, there are almost no Georgian Azerbaijanis in Azerbaijani universities, he complained.

According to Asadov, the most optimal way to solve the personnel problem is to open the Azerbaijan Pedagogical University in Georgia, and this can only happen with the support of the Azerbaijani state. Another option is to create a branch or department in one of the universities in Georgia, but this option will not be effective, he continued.

It is also possible to help students return to Georgia after studying in Gazakh or Baku, but this will most likely not give the desired result: “Such students, having lived for several years away from Georgia, will forget the Georgian language. And students of an Azerbaijani pedagogical university in Georgia could learn to teach subjects in Azeri and at the same time improve their Georgian.”

At the same time, Asadov pointed to the expediency of sending Azerbaijani teachers to Georgia, rather than local students to Azerbaijan.

Georgia is a country of Transcaucasia, in which the BOLOGNA system of education operates, both in schools and universities. There are public and private schools in Georgia. Naturally, private schools are the priority, but due to the high cost of education, public schools are preferred.

Being students of schools, the Ministry of Education of Georgia offers various programs, olympiads and competitions for students. In Georgia, the annual international exchange program FLEX is operating and well-conducted, as a result of which students, even in their youth, learn to live independently. Also, the Ministry of Education annually holds school Olympiads, the winners of which from all over the country go to the camp, where, in addition to the academic part, there is also an entertaining sports part. This is where the youth come together. Naturally, this is how children grow up, while receiving an education. Well, the 12th grade comes - the most responsible class - the year when already young students-applicants take exams for a certificate and entrance exams to universities.

In Georgia today there are about two dozen state universities and about 60 private universities. Each university has its own priorities, interests, areas of attraction, and so on. Applicants make a choice between faculties, universities according to their interest, opportunities, prestige and many other reasons. It should be noted that among the state universities the leaders are Tbilisi State University. Ivane Javakhishvili, State Polytechnic Institute, Sukhumi State University, Tbilisi State Medical Institute. Here, naturally, there is a lot of competition, and a different profile, and different interests.

As for private higher education institutions, it should be noted that there is also a lot of competition among them, since each of them offers different offers to applicants, sometimes even these offers look “tempting”. But this is all - PR-company of universities.

Annually in Georgia, the number of applicants is approximately 38-43 thousand, of which approximately 3-5% do not pass school exams (and therefore do not have the right to pass to the university), approximately 5-7% cannot pass to the university due to prices (not can pay), about 3% does not want to (because after graduating from a university it is very difficult to find a job, and they say, but the point is to take it - well, somewhere they might be right!), And from the remaining applicants, at the entrance exams cut off about 8%. As a result, 30-32 thousand applicants become students.

The main task after choosing a profession, being an applicant (in Georgia, school education is 12 years), after students pass exams, enter and start studying, the question is - ACTIVITY of students in different projects. As in all countries, so in the universities of Georgia, there is a student self-government, a student council, which is a university body in which active students are united and who try to participate in various projects, trainings, charity events, etc. include all students. How it turns out, what is the result in the end - this is the second question.

The activity of students, both in studies and in projects (internal, regional and international) is naturally reflected in the image of the country, student, university. It is with these criteria that the country enters the international arena, this or that university becomes popular, and naturally this attracts foreign students to study in Georgia.

Returning to the topic of student activity, it should be noted that there are a lot of projects for students - they are organized and supervised both by the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Georgia, and specific universities within, and several universities, nevertheless conducting regional projects, and there are cases when international projects are carried out (the final is abroad). In addition to most projects, students are also offered various projects and non-governmental organizations (these are various trainings, training courses, etc.). It should be noted that approximately 65% ​​of the country's students take part both in studies and in projects.

Here, for example, you can list the activities that are held annually for students in Georgia in parallel with the educational process:

1. Student days (the duration is a month, there are various competitions between students (both intellectual and sports), the competition is great, the best win);

2. Universiade (sports competitions);

3. Trainings, exchange programs;

4. Forums;

5. Conferences (scientific, regional, international);

6. Olympics, etc.

In all of the above events, about 65% percent (listeners) are directly or indirectly active, of which approximately 20% of students are active participants, and sometimes organizers (that is, which make up all student governments, student councils).

STUDENT DAYS is a project of the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Georgia, which is republican and is carried out throughout the country.

The project, which will unite the youth, students of the country, develops in students, in addition to the academic part, sports skills, competition between universities, is held annually in the country in the spring. It should be noted that both public and private universities become the winners of the students, the winners of the universities. Returning to studies and the level, prestige, as well as the interests of applicants or students, it is this project that can be said to dominate when choosing a university.

Naturally, this is one of the main reasons that subsequently affect the educational process. Disinterest, information vacuum, small quotas for participation (which exactly develops the student's interest for competition, victory), is precisely the main factor that some students “give up”, and sometimes this affects academic performance.

In the history of Georgian students, 2013 was the most active year. It is known that on September 27, 1993, after 13 months and 13 days of war (08/14/1992 - 09/27/1993), Sukhumi fell. In 2013, 20 years have passed since this tragic date for the history of Georgia. It was students, student self-governments who organized a peaceful action called "ABKHAZIA - OUR PAIN". The action was joined by students from all over Georgia, both from public and private universities.

The action, to which the students joined, showed the unity of the country with a peaceful gesture, nevertheless, expressing pain and sorrow, united all the youth, all the students of the country. Yes - and it was unity, it was a gesture that all universities are connected and have friendly relations. About 16 thousand students took part in the action. This action was not only a sign of the unity of the country, it also showed the purpose of the students, showed their knowledge of the history of the country, knowledge of geography, politics, etc.

Returning to the issue of education, it should be noted that in Georgian universities, based on the interests, activity, academic performance of students, we can say that there are both popular faculties and less popular ones that are at the level of extinction (since students believe that these professions are hard or almost impossible to use).

In conclusion, education in Georgia is normally developed. Young people, despite laziness and various obstacles, successfully finish school, universities, sometimes in almost 30% of cases, continue their studies abroad, which they partly glorify the country.

Davit Doneriani

Sokhumi State University

Georgia

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In 2006 Georgia signed the Bologna Agreement. The education system in the country has become consistent with the pan-European one, it provides for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral studies. In Georgia, obtaining a master's and doctoral degree depends on the desire of students.

You can get higher education in Georgia not only in the Georgian language. Russian, English, French and German sectors are open for foreign students in the country at the leading universities of Georgia in various areas - medicine, law, economics, business, philology.

Tuition fees in Georgian universities range from 2,250 lari (up to $1,000) to more than 20,000 lari (about $3,400) per year.

As a rule, getting a medical education in other countries is much more expensive than in Georgia. That is why every year this area is the most popular among foreign students.

How can a foreigner enter a university in Georgia

Foreign applicants for admission to a higher educational institution in Georgia only need to provide a certificate of complete secondary education. They do not need to take the Unified National Examinations, but will have to pay the full amount of tuition at the university. In the event that they wish to receive a state grant, they will have to pass the CES under the school education program in Georgia. If they successfully pass the exams, they can also receive 100% funding.

Georgian universities with Russian faculties

The list of universities where you can study in Russian is small.

At I. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, the Russian sector is open in such areas as Caucasian studies, Russian philology, journalism and mass communication.

Georgian Technical University offers the following Russian-language programs: Construction of Water Supply and Drainage Systems, Energy and Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Oil and Gas Technologies, Mining and Oil and Gas Engineering, Architecture, Business Administration, International Relations, Journalism, Computer Science, Computer Modeling, Systems and Networks, engineering physics.

Tbilisi Humanitarian Educational University offers only two Russian-language areas: organization and business management and dentistry.

Tbilisi Medical Educational University "Hipocrates" offers Russian-speaking students an educational program of a certified physician and an educational program of a certified dentist.

State program for national minorities

For representatives of ethnic minorities who are citizens of Georgia but do not speak Georgian, the National Center for Examinations and Assessments translates examination tests. To enter a university, they can take exams in Azerbaijani, Armenian or Russian. They will only have to take an exam in Georgian language and literature in Georgian.

In addition, the state gives them the opportunity to enter a higher educational institution after successfully passing the skills exam in their native language, and after completing a one-year intensive course in the study of the Georgian language, and then continue their studies at any faculty they wish.

Foreign students in Georgia

According to the National Statistical Service "Sakstat" (Gruzstat), 8 thousand 12 foreign students study at state and private universities in Georgia in 2016-2017. In comparison with the previous academic year, their number increased by 1,369 people.

Most foreign students (4,599) study at private universities. These are mainly citizens of Azerbaijan (2,093 people).

As for public universities, most of the students here are from India (1,389 people).

Of the international students, 3,611 are undergraduate students, and 4,401 are undergraduate, residency or graduate veterinarian programs.

The majority of undergraduate students (2,235 students) have chosen social sciences, business and law departments, while the majority of students in graduate, residency, or registered veterinary programs (4,232 students) have chosen health and social welfare departments.

People come to Georgia to study even from such countries as China, USA, Canada, Germany, Russia, Israel, Great Britain, France, Spain and others.

Otherwise, the education system is similar to the generally recognized education system:

• education in elementary school;
• studies in secondary and higher schools;
• studying at a college or university in the country.

Foreign applicants should keep in mind that teaching is not only in Georgian, so if you do not speak this language, then you should not focus on this aspect. Many universities have a number of educational units in which education is conducted in Russian, German, English, Armenian, Abkhazian and Azerbaijani. To enter the country's universities, you only need a certificate of higher secondary education. Residents of CIS countries that do not have the Bologna system of education will need to complete an additional year of study to obtain a bachelor's degree.

Universities in Georgia

In total, there are 26 public and 200 private universities in Georgia, where you can get education in a wide variety of areas. At the moment, the Georgian government is pursuing an active policy of opening universities that are as close as possible to the pan-European education system. These educational institutions include the European School of Management and, directly, the Institute of Public Administration. The Institute of Public Administration is currently collaborating with the US National Academy. Teaching at this university is based on special training programs using American textbooks.

In case you are enrolled in the university of Georgia, you should take into account the following feature. Due to the complicated relations between Russia and Georgia, entry into the country for Russian residents through South Ossetia and Abkhazia is prohibited. You can get to Georgia by air flight through the territory of Latvia and Turkey. Or by using rail and sea means of transportation, however, it will take more time.

To enter the country, you will need a student visa, a copy of the certificate of higher secondary education, as well as a medical certificate and other documentation that will be indicated in the response letter. The procedure for sending documents should be dealt with in advance, after inquiring about the language of teaching and the availability of the desired specialties at the university.