One of the most important issues in the theories of the announced reforms by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport is the abolition of teachers’ career advancement cycles as defined in the "the Scheme of Interaction of Teacher Activity, Professional Development and Career Advancement ".

The statements made in mass media have not been justified by the solid arguments, why the career advancement status should be abolished. The Minister in his one of the public statement stated: ,,The Winner of the National Award – 2017” Mr. Vladimer Apkhazava, the best teacher prize holder in Georgia cannot be granted with the Mentor Status (highest status) due to the ,,Scheme”. This it is a mild mistake.

On February 13 2019, the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia (ESFTUG) addressed to the Minister concerning the above-mentioned case with the letter of recommendation (N:01-01-08).

Recommendations:

,,…. Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia considers it urgently significant not to hinder the implementation process defined by the Teachers’ Professional Development and Carrier building Scheme, for those teachers who have implemented activities to raise their status, before the new normative act is adopted. It is important that all circumstances are to be analyzed properly and without any barriers.

In one of the public statement it was regrettably said by you that the winner of the National Teacher Award – 2017, Vladimer Apkhazava was not granted with the highest Status of Teachers and the hindering factor is in the Scheme”. On 26 January, 2017, the amendments were made by the Decree N:35 of the Government of Georgia in the Resolution N: 68 of the Government of Georgia "On Approving Teacher Activities, Approval of Professional Development and Career Progress Scheme", which defines the special cases of granting status for teachers, particulary:

"One of the Status for special pedagogical experience and achievements and / or special education can be granted by the individual administrative-legal act of the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia". Unfortunately, this norm is not endorsed. This provision gives you the competence to grant one of status to the winners of "National Award - 2017", Mr. Vladimer Apkhazava and the winner of "National Award - 2018", Ms. Manana Kapetivadze.

On behalf of Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia, we also recommend you to consider the issue of raising the status of top ten teachers of the National Awards - 2017 and 2018.

I hope that this recommendation will be taken into consideration. We are sure that teachers involved in both competition (2017 and 2018) will be properly valued.

We are confident that such approach will be highly appreciated by the teaching society and will motivate active participation of teachers in the future competitions.

Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia observes to identify the activities of teachers’ practices to recommend granting the special status.   

14 February 2019