Deputy Minster of Education and Science of Georgia-Lia Gigauri and the National Center for Teacher Professional Development Director - Giorgi Machabeli met with the Gardabani state school teachers today and presented the news on the “Teacher Induction, Professional Development and Career Advancement Scheme”. As the Deputy Minister declared 330 in-service teachers have been promoted to senior teacher status already. It’s also noteworthy that despite the status related bonuses, teachers’ basic salaries have been increased as well from April 1.

The National Center for Teacher Professional Development Director - Giorgi Machabeli declared, that inner observation instrument is being tested and active collaboration with the school assessment groups are under way with the aim of effective feedback in mind.

The Georgian Language courses have been offered to the Ethnic minority teachers within the scheme for the first time for the effective and continuous professional development in mind. The course attendance is optician and more than 700 teachers of non-Georgian schools are attending the course currently. Besides, part I of the ‘’Teacher Induction, Professional Development and Career Advancement Scheme” Guideline and self-evaluation questionnaires have been translated into Russian, Azeri and Armenian languages and disseminated among the ethnic minority teachers individually. The above mentioned contributes to the full integration of ethnic minority teachers.

The details of self-evaluation instrument and its correlation with the teacher professional planning have been explained to teachers once more. As the MoES representatives declared self-evaluation questionnaire analysis and teachers’ recommendations will be reflected in the scheme document, upon the pilot regime completion. As Lia Gigauri stated scheme must be a trigger and motivation instrument for teachers, not a burden. The Deputy Minister talked about the changes in the National Curriculum and asked the teachers’ opinions on the topic, according to Lia Gigaguri the National Curriculum will be translated and available for ethnic minorities as soon the final updates are ready.