Modernizing education system in Georgia:

1
Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia

• Modernizing education system in Georgia
• a human centered approach
• 2004-2006
• Alexander Lomaia
• Minister of Education and Science of Georgia

alomaia_at_mes.gov.ge
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• Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia
• Presentation plan

• Contents
• Background An Inherited Legacy of Decline
• Goals of Reform
• Principles and Methodology
• Application to General Education Higher
  Education
• How to Measure Progress
• Reform Outcomes to Date

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• Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia
• Background a legacy of decline

• GEORGIA
• Population 4,4 million
• General Education 600,000 pupils /
  70,000 teachers
• /
  2,500 schools
• Higher Education 120 000 students /
  120 HEIs

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Ministry of
Education and Science of Georgia

Background a legacy of decline
General education
National assessment in literacy and math
(2003) up to 40 below the low level
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Ministry of Education and Science of
Georgia
Background a legacy of decline
Higher education
At least 3 mil. USD paid in
bribes annually at the university entrance
examinations
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Ministry of Education and Science of
Georgia Goals of the reform
Knowledge-based economy
Competitiveness
Civic integration
Social inclusion
Public expenditures on education 3 times by
2010 3 of GDP Learning environment with
modern standards Increased quality of education

Better access to
education Compatibility with intl system of
education and RD

Favorable conditions for
life-long learning Responsiveness to labor
market demands
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Ministry of Education and Science of
Georgia Principles and methodology

• Reinventing the concept of education a student
• Decentralization/deregulation/liberalization
• Accountability
• Quality assurance accreditation and standards
• Result oriented teaching and learning
• Capacity building
• Freedom of choice
• Money follows student
• Public participation

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Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia
Principles and Methodology

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Ministry of Education and Science of
Georgia Change implementation strategy
Evaluation/ assessment
Adjustment
Content national curriculum, university programs
Institutional changes specialized agencies
established
Financing model implementation
New legal environment
Strategy development
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Ministry of Education and Science of
Georgia Implementation time frame
Higher Education 2004-2010
Legal framework institutional changes -
self-governance - curriculum European
Higher Education Area
General Education 2004-2012 Legal
framework restructuring school boards elected
new curriculum teacher certification
- infrastructure
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Ministry of Education and Science of
Georgia Indicators of the progress

• Teaching/Learning Outcomes
• Results of national/international assessments
• Increased employability rate
• Computer literacy
• Better performance of ethnic minority pupils
• Civic and social Inclusion
• Increase in the number of scientific publications
• Recourses
• Better learning environment
• Increased school voucher
• Private funds raised
• Computer to student ratio
• Increased teacher salaries
• More schools for children with special needs
• Attractiveness
• More foreign students

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Ministry of Education and Science of
Georgia
Reform
outcomes to date

• Concept development
• National goals of general education
• National curriculum - built around an individual
  ? implementation in progress
• Teacher development concept certification,
  incentives for growth
• VET concept new opportunities
• Legal changes
• Law on GE school boards, freedom of choice
• Law on HE autonomy, accountability,
  liberalization, research-based education
• Pending draft law on VET
• Pending draft law on TPD

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Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia

Reform at the current stage

• Institutional/infrastructural Changes
• School boards elected 80 turnout
• NAEC (Examinations), TPDC (Teacher Professional
  Development), NCAC (Curriculum), NEAC
  (Accreditation)
• HEI accreditation institutional capacity
  standards 247 ?110 ?39 (?)
• School rehabilitation program better learning
  environment for 30 of pupils
• School computerization ratio 200/1 ? 65/1
• Public expenditures doubled since 2003
• Regional coverage educational resource centers
• United Entrance Examinations 2005, 2006
  corruption eradicated MA national exams to
  follow in 2009

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Ministry of Education and Science of
Georgia Contributing factors
Education reform