2019-08-27
It is now in the history of salary raise for teachers that phase one an unprecedented, consistent policy is in the making, based on which, in October of 2019, every pedagogue with a relevant status will receive a raise, as I promised earlier, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze stated during today's meeting with teachers.
According to the Head of Government, besides pedagogues, raises will come into force for the employees of the resource centers and school administration, including technical personnel, school physicians, and supplementary inclusive education specialists. Salary increases will also apply to persons responsible for school safety who have received retraining from the Office of Resource Officers to ensure safety and public order on school premises.
"Remuneration has been one of the most painful issues, and for me personally, it has been a heavy load, with simple statistics showing me that teachers' salary in Georgia was half the average salary. Naturally, with that kind of policy and approaches, there could be no success for the country in the 21st century. That is why we need drastic changes, and I can assure you I appreciate the public demand," Mamuka Bakhtadze stated,
According to the Prime Minister, teachers' salaries will raised annually to reach 1700 GEL by 2022, also 2150 and 2450 GEL for leader and mentor teachers, respectively.
Six thousand pensioner teacher practitioners who have decided to retire will, in early October, receive a bonus from the state in the amount of twice the annual salary, and they will be able to keep teachers' insurance policies for life, the Prime Minister emphasized.
"Our society as a whole agrees that education and science are the foundation of our country's future. Education is the shortest route to freedom, one that will help us overcome poverty and occupation, and it is the only guarantor that Georgia, in the 21st century, will be a successful country among its developed peers. Our educational reforms draws on national, cultural, and democratic values to harmonize with Georgia's present environment, and to introduce the highest national standard in the country," Mamuka Bakhtadze said.
According to the Prime Minister, the Government has reached its goal and, according to the new law, every succeeding government will be obligated to channel quarter of the budget toward education.
"I remember well working on this reform, and the large-scale challenges it involved, but I was also convinced that progress is only possible for educated, motivated, and self-confident citizens, and that is how we will lay a solid foundation for our country. Adopted by the Parliament in July, this law is an unprecedented step, the most daring step, I would say, which we as society have taken since the restoration of our country's independence. I was hoping to the last that, during the draft law's deliberations, various opposition parties would set aside partisan interests to support the bill, which never happened, unfortunately. I avail myself of this opportunity once again to urge all political forces. My friends, education is a national idea that must unite us all, and speculations on this idea are totally unacceptable. Turning it into a part of negative agenda is unacceptable. This idea must unite us all. Consequently, I reiterate my commitment to making this reform open for everyone, yet we all must agree that education is indeed a national idea," Mamuka Bakhtadze pointed out.
According to the Head of Government, the educational reform encompasses 5 levels: preschool, secondary, vocational, and higher education, and science, and all five are equally prioritized by the Government.
"But we also understand that the success of any educational reforms relies on secondary education. School is the cornerstone of our country's strength. Teachers play a vital role as part of the new approaches under the reform, which is why one of the first steps involves teachers. Our reform is about giving more freedom to schools and more freedom to teachers," Mamuka Bakhtadze underlined.
According to the Prime Minister, teachers' adequate remuneration for decent work is a fundamental step toward the implementation of the reform.
"It is now in the history of salary raise for teachers that phase one an unprecedented, consistent policy is in the making, based on which, in October of 2019, every pedagogue with a relevant status will receive a raise. Your profession is unique in any nation and I, as the author of this idea, believe that one of the key goals of its implementation is to give back to the pedagogical profession the respect and honor it deserves, simply because you are the ones to raise for the country future public servants, service members, police officers, entrepreneurs, doctors, and patriots whose success will define the strength of our country, which is I personally see education as a national idea," Mamuka Bakhtadze said.
According to the Prime Minister, the fundamental educational reform will turn teaching into one of the most prestigious and respected vocations in Georgia.
"I would like to single out their merits, as each of them is a true hero. I know well that you have been through a very difficult period when education, because of intentional policy or mistakes, was pushed to the brink of disaster. And despite the fact that you had no remuneration, and there was no basic infrastructure, you have seen the system of education through to enable us to speak about the most daring, ambitious project since independence. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to every merited pedagogue," Mamuka Bakhtadze stated.
The Head of Government thanked experts and international partners actively involved in the development of the reform.
"These are the first steps. Education is the shortest route to freedom, freedom from occupation, freedom from poverty, and I am convinced that, thanks to this reform, Georgia will be a unified, strong, and prosperous state in the 21st century," Mamuka Bakhtadze said.
Prime Minister's Press Office