One of the most important issues of the reforms theory of the minister of education, science, culture and sports is the abolition of career advancement cycles defined by the "Start of Teacher Activity, Professional Development and Career Advancement Scheme".
The statements made by mass media have not stated the arguments, why the career progression levels should be abolished. The Minister's example that the best teacher of the year, the holder of the "National Award - 2017", Mr. Vladimir Apkhazava not having a mentor's degree is the fault of this scheme is a make mistake, to put it mildly.
On February 13, 2019, the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia addressed the above-mentioned issue with the recommendation letter (N°1-01-08) to Mr. Mikheil Batiashvili.
The contents of the message:
"The Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia thinks that" the initiation of the teacher's activity, professional development and career advancement "scheme should not be suspended and the teachers who have exercised relevant activities should be able to improve their status before the enactment of a new normative act. For this purpose, it is necessary to deeply analyze the condition of fulfillment of standards the scheme sets for teachers for the liabilities of the ministry to be carried out without delay...
Mr. Minister, we share your disappointment with the winner of the competition "Teacher National Award - 2017" Vladimer Apkhazava not achieving the highest level of teacher, something you said in the public speeches along with mentioning the fact that the current scheme is a hindering factor.
To be reminded, on January 26, 2017, the Government of Georgia made the amendment No35 in the Resolution No68 of the Government of Georgia "On the initiation of the teacher's activity, Professional Development and Career Advancement Scheme", which defined a special case of granting a status:
"The merit teacher with special pedagogical experience and achievement and / or special achievement in general education can be granted one of the statutes defined by the scheme by the individual administrative-legal act of the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia"."Unfortunately, this norm is not enacted and the law gives you the highest status of the scheme according to the award of" National Award - 2017 ", Mr. Vladimer Apkhazava and the winner of" National Award - 2015 "Ms. Manana Kapetivadze.
We, the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia (ESFTUG) recommend that the status of the top ten participants of “the Teachers’ National Award-Georgia” in years 2017 and 2018 is reconsidered/decided.
I hope you will show compassion and appreciate the hard work and merit of the teachers involved in both the competition in 2017 and 2018.
“We are confident that the teachers' society welcomes such approaches that heighten teachers’ motivation to take active participation in future competitions. "
The Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia is conducting a study of the successful results of the teacher's work to provide recommendation on granting the status.