2019-03-08
"We have an ambitious plan to fully transform the education sector and establish an outstanding Georgian school of education" stated Mamuka Bakhtadze, Prime Minister of Georgia at a press briefing held today.
According to the Head of Government of Georgia, practice of developed countries demonstrates that if education sector does not contribute to a double-digit number in the economy of the country in the 21st century, such nations find it hard to compete at international markets.
"This is exactly what we aim at. Education sector will dominate in the economy after the realization of this idea and it will constantly be a double-digit number of GDP - at least 10-11%" noted the Prime Minister of Georgia.
With the new initiative, state budget allocations for the education sector will be 1.6 BLN GEL in 2019, 2 BLN GEL in 2020, 2.5 BLN GEL in 2021 and will hit 6% of GDP in 2022, i.e. 3.4 BLN GEL.
"We were handed over the education sector in 2012, with less than 700 MLN GEL earmarked from the State Budget. It will reach 6% of GDP in 2022, i.e. 3.4 BLN GEL and in the coming dozens of years all current and future governments will be legally bound to spend at least 6% of GDP on education. According to current fiscal parameters, it is one fourth of the State Budget. In our opinion, education is a road leading to freedom. It is freedom from poverty, freedom from occupation and freedom from all those challenges that our nation faces today and need to be overcome" added the Prime Minister of Georgia.
Reform covers all five tiers of education: pre-school, general schooling, tertiary, higher and science.
"It means wide-scale investments not only in the infrastructure, but increased remuneration and higher funding for scientific research. It is our vision and we thus plan to transform Georgia into a regional economic hub. One of the major reasons of current economic challenges faced by us is that education and economy got distanced from each other. It is unacceptable. It has led to significant problems in the economy of the country and we believe that this initiative will create a sustainable and supportive environment for economic growth and development in Georgia" added the Prime Minister of Georgia.
According to the new concept, accessibility of education will be ensured throughout the country. New schools and kindergartens will be built and existing ones will be widely rehabilitated in every region of the country.
"Every teacher employed at kindergartens, schools, vocational training centers or universities will get decent wages and salaries. Same applies to the remuneration of scientists. Profession of teachers will become one of the most prestigious in the country. New teaching methods will be introduced. Teachers will be retrained. We have specific agreements concluded with international experts of education and plan to change the current programs and approaches. We will introduce European standards, which means that university diplomas and vocational education certificates issued in Georgia will become recognized in Europe to lead to the worldwide employment of every person gaining education in the country. We thus plan to regain the historic role of Georgia as an education and arts hub of the entire region" concluded the Prime Minister of Georgia.
Prime Minister's Press Office