2016-07-27
Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili conducted a meeting with the part of honor students and golden medalists from 4 municipalities of Guria region at the "Ivlita Library" of Chokhatauri office of "Gurianews".
The Prime Minister indicated that holding the meeting with successful young people, at Ivlita Djibouti Library who died in the June 13 disaster was symbolic. Giorgi Kvirikashvili said that the flood claimed lives of truly distinguished individuals and recalled consolidation of the society in the process of liquidation of the outcomes of disaster.
"Consolidation of young people, similar to one that we observed then, occurred in our generation - on April 9 of 1989. I guess, we loved each other very much then. Hatred disappeared at once - similar phenomenon occurred in this case as well. Unfortunately, such feelings follow tragic events - we realize that we can consolidate. My older children would go out every morning with shovels in their hands and return late at night. I was glad that they also felt this responsibility, but I was sorry that it happened at the expense of such a tragedy. It is great that Ivlita's name is memorialized here," - Prime Minister stated.
The head of the Government explained planned reforms in the education system to students and noted that the education system delivered to the young people by the Government shall be export oriented covering at least the regional market, and in this case it will be competitive.
Prime Minister considers that to be competitive, relevant curricula, training of the professors and educators, student friendly environment as well as state aid, etc, shall be provided.
According to the head of the Government, this is the cornerstone principle that has been agreed upon and reformation of higher and professional as well as general education shall follow it.
During his meeting with young people, the head of the Government put particular emphasis on the distance that shall be maintained between the education system and any kind of political confrontation. According to him, the Minister of Education is the least politicized Minister and that is correct.
Pursuant to the Prime Minister, education system shall be more demand oriented.
"Unfortunately, today we are financing unemployment directly from the budget because we finance professions, which subsequently will not be demanded. In fact, we impose illusion upon young people that after studies they will obtain a profession, and it turns out that this profession is therefore not necessary. On on the other hand, some other professions enjoy higher demand and they are not taught, because it is not popular among young people. It is our fault because we did not tell them that some other professions have much better employment opportunities - if they learn, for example, civil engineering, instead of the jurisprudence. However, there are professions that are not reflected in any of the market research - humanitarian directions, classical philology, philosophy and so on that have to be taught, because the nation needs an intellectual food and the people who work in this direction. I think that such a mix of strategy will enable us to achieve progress and at least ensure that the state does encourage people to follow professions that will lead them to unemployment with scholarship," - Prime Minister stated.
According to him, the need of public-private cooperation to fund teaching of the most demanded professions has been demonstrated empirically. So-called German model of dual education when people learn and work at the same time is based on this principle. The Prime Minister noted that model of professional education that the government wants to create is based on this idea and this process has already started.
Head of Government considers that there are some closed systems, where acquaintances, friends, relatives write papers for each other - one creates a work, and the other performs the functions of opponent. Giorgi Kvirikashvili noted that opening of such systems was one of the recent demands during the protests of students and he shares this attitude. Premier believes that in this case there will be much more competition, quality of science and higher education will increase, etc.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili paid special attention to the necessity of respecting teachers.
"First of all, our great teacher corps must be respected. We shall not indicate our disrespect for them by holding public examinations and announcing percentage of failed teachers. This attitude from the government needs to be changed. I do not say that the quality of education and teacher training level should not be increased, but the approach should be different, "- said the Prime Minister.
Head of Government indicated that there are many things that need to be changed, including in the system of the general education, including curricula, textbooks and etc. As for equipment of system with modern technology, he said, the most important role in this process has the project of universal access of internet, through which more than 2 thousand settlements will have access to high-speed fiber-optic internet.
"This is truly a revolutionary project, which brings a major change to the whole educational system. It will be possible to listen to the most of the lectures, the lessons in Live stream at any school environment, for example in Lanchkhuti, Chokhatauri, Ozurgeti and it will be very good for teacher training, for competition, etc. On the whole, the education system undergoes very serious changes, and we hope that as a result of these changes, a generation that graduates from high school and higher education institutions will be much more prepared for modern life, be more competitive, not only in Georgia but also abroad ", - he said.
Prime Minister also discussed "Education and Culture Center" operating under the Prime Minister, which sends young people abroad to prepare for the public sector, thus enhancing the generation and creating a team of people able to share the experience with others.
"I guess, all this will bring a major change, not only to the education system, but also to the whole country ", - Prime Minister indicated.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili thanked the students for the meeting and noted that these kind of meetings are good during the pre-election period, when emotions are rising.
"Unfortunately, it has become a tradition to engage in a comprehensive fight throughout the that pre-election period and insult everyone. It's better to finish this tradition and to move the country to the normal environment, "- Prime Minister noted.
Prime Minister's Press Office