Challenges in Vocational Education
A new model for developing vocational education teachers will be introduced. Consequently, salaries of teachers will also increase, in order to attract so-called professional teachers and improve the quality of education, Deputy Education Minister Tamar Kitiashvili told Business Partner.
The hourly salary of a vocational education teacher has almost doubled, compared to 2018. The salaries will further increase by the end of 2020, after the introduction of a new system.
Over the past 2 years, teachers’ salaries doubled, and the hourly salary amounted to 15 GEL, and dramatic growth from 8 GEL, she said.
“Salaries will further increase by the end of 2020, as part of the system and model that will be introduced for developing vocational teachers. We are developing this model with the support of World Bank (WB). Condition for teachers will be improved, in compliance with their professional progress. Naturally, this salary will attract qualified teachers to the vocational education system. It is very important for us to attract professional teachers, because this is a real challenge, and today we need professionals in the vocational education system, such as specialists on information technology, welders, chefs and so on,” Kitiashvili noted.
These changes will allow us to attract professional teachers to this sector, she added.
“This is very important for us to improve quality. A teacher is key in this process, whose quality should be ensured. Simultaneously, a teacher is a bridge between the students and their employment, where students will demonstrate their professional skills”, Kitiashvili pointed out.
The integrated vocational education program will be widely introduced for adolescents with basic education. Many international reports prove that Georgia faces real problems regarding the employment of human capital and vocational education can play a pivotal role in overcoming this challenge, she noted.
Commenced under the auspices of the EU Association Agreement in 2013, vocational education reform calls for introducing European standards in the field, for both adolescents and adults. Under this reform, a large-scale integrated program will be launched this year, Kitiashvili pointed out.
“The new pilot program for young people was launched with the support of the UN in 2016, and it will be introduced widely this year. We will introduce integrated programs. This means that we will offer 9the grade pupils vocational education programs as an extension to their general education component. These are middle vocational programs. I have also graduated from these courses, at the time. This platform will be used to allow young people to get alternative diplomas, and acquire new professions. The Ministry will introduce modern programs of this type in 2020”, Kitiashvili said.
A short program associated with BA-level programs will also be introduced, she said
“We also have a 2-year program, the highest vocational program. These programs will, with varying degrees of intensity, be related to higher educational programs. There are programs that we have not launched yet, and we hope that, this year, we will introduce them. These short programs are related to BA-level courses, and the program’s results should recognized as a BA-level education. Consequently, the time for achieving a BA-level diploma will be shortened,” Kitiashvili said.
As for vocational education for adults, the Deputy Education Minister pointed out that in 2019, an entirely new training technique was introduced, and the government provides quality guarantees.
“Informal education existed the entire time, and informal training will also exist, offered by various organizations. However, our initiative aims to formalize certain programs. This means that the government will guarantee quality. This program has been agreed with employers in advance. These programs have passed through a quality filter quality, and I confirm this with my stamp of approval”, Tamar Kitiashvili told Business Partner.
This year, we will introduce a new standard of authorization for vocational colleges, based on international experience, Kitiashvili noted.
As for coming additions at vocational colleges, this year, a new standard of authorization will be introduced, she added.
“This year we will introduce a new standard of certification, based on international standards, with a so-called European benchmark. The introduction of this standard will further harmonize our standards with international qualifications. Our ambition is that we will work on exchanges and joint programs in 2020, so as to issue international certificates. We have a similar precedent in the developmental sector. So-called BTEC certificates were issued, and SISCO certificates are used in the IT field, and so on. We want to cover as many certificates as possible. When talking about the system;s modernization, a college is a key, in that it offers and provides services. We plan to carry out many changes here. First, in relation to new standards, we will analyze the college’s structure, their management approaches. We will revise them, and adapt them to international standards”, Kitiashvili said.
Intense work is underway to popularize vocational education in schools, too, Kitiashvili pointed out.
“We have also prepared a new component - “Vocational Education in Secondary Schools”. We plan to actively engage in secondary schools. This innovation has already applied to 15,000 pupils for 2 years. We offer a two-month orientation program to allow 8-9-grade pupils to work in this or that profession; for example, in the culinary field, and to acquire basic skills, and get familiar with profession. We will also activate certificate programs, where simultaneously with schools, pupils will acquire certain professional skills. Our policy is to expand the vocational education network, and work with successful schools, experienced in these orientation programs. It is possible that they introduce one or two qualification programs to the schools”, Kitiashvili noted.
Large-scale information campaigns will also be carried out for popularizing vocational education, the Deputy Education Minister noted.
“We lack a marketing campaign, and we should improve public awareness. Only donors used to help us in this regard. The budget was always limited here. This year, we will have stronger support from donors. Furthermore, we have also allocated funds to carry out large-scale campaigns for both parents and children, and private colleges. Cooperation with them is of vital importance.
School programs have also increased public awareness of vocational education. However, we believe that we can do this better, working with the private sector. We should help parents and pupils in light of vocational education, and that this is a very quick mechanism to work towards self-realization”, Tamar Kitiashvili told Business Partner.