On June 8, 2012 was held the meeting of the Georgian Government. The agenda included 69 items.
Before the meeting started, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Nika Gilauri, talked about education system.
We present the Prime Minister's speech.
"I would like to say a few words about reforms carried out and to be carried out in education sector. We have had a very positive picture. Results of the reforms are obvious. This is shown in national examination results, as well as teachers' certification results. Despite the tests are of the same, and in some cases, of the higher complexity, number of failed students is significantly reduced. Principals of schools have a great desire to maximally improve education process. I think, we have carried out a correct school reform, with a view to funding, on the one hand, and with a view to encouraging, on the other hand.
Apart from this, encouraging of certified teachers plays a very important role in increasing education level. Today, I have met with American, English and other foreign teachers, who have been in Georgia for a year, teaching English to our teachers and students. This is a very successful program and we see its results quite obviously. This can be measured in figures. For example, most of teachers trying to pass English language at certification exams were failing. Last year, most of them passed this exam without any problem. Apart from this, 73% of children choosing foreign language for national exams have chosen English language this year. Not Russian, not French, not German, but English language. I think that English language is one of the most important parts in the globalization period, which shall be, so to say, a prop of our education system.
Apart from this, I would like to say a few words about a new reform, which the President talked about a few days ago. This is about 8+1 model. According to the previous system, students had to pass eight exams at school. We adopted this system last year. (Students) had to pass four additional exams in the form of Unified National Examinations. They had to prepare separately for these eight exams at school. Those, who could afford this, hired tutors to prepare for these four exams as well. This was an extra financial burden for a family, as well as for a student. We had to introduce this system as several years ago, this was impossible to carry out transparent computer examinations of such type at schools. Neither schools have respective equipment, nor teachers and Principals were properly motivated. Consequently, we have introduced Unified National Examinations, which are one of successful steps and one of the most successful parts of our reforms.
Although, the time has come to remake these reforms, introduce novelties. Respectively, from the next year, we will have a system, according to which students will pass eight exams at school plus General Skills Tests as well. They will enter universities according to their results. This will be a decisive score to determine which university they will be admitted to. Accordingly, they will not have to prepare for Unified National Examinations additionally or to hire additional tutors and all these will be implemented in such a way as this takes place in civilized world. This very system is introduced in Europe and the USA, and this works very well.
I would like to emphasize that Unified National Examinations will be carried out this year. The reforms we offer will take effect from the next year. This year, Unified National Examinations will be conducted and everything is ready for this. Tests have been brought and examinations will start on June 28. I would like to wish everyone success in these examinations".
Prime Minister's Press Service