A series entitled "Lawyer Consultation", prepared by lawyers of the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia Anano Panchulidze and Giorgi Nanobashvili was published in the 3rd issue of the newspaper “New Education” February 6-12,2020.
The questions have been developed by the Legal Department of ESFTUG on the basis of consultations with teachers.
Frequently Asked Questions and Comments by the ESFTUG Legal Department.
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or read the full text of the publication⤵️
🔽 As already announced, by 2020 the system of accumulation of credits will be replaced by the "Regulation on Teaching Profession."What benefits and obligations does this normative act provide for teachers?
Entering, retaining and advancing the profession will be regulated by the "Rules and Regulations on Teaching Profession."It should be noted that the credits obtained by the teachers will not be abolished, however, there will be no internal credit accumulation system anymore.As known, there were internal assessment teams at schools that evaluated teacher activities and assigned credentials accordingly.Such a system will no longer exist. Under the new system, teachers will be able to collect credits through external mechanisms.
This means that practicing teachers who have completed all the required activities - passed both exams, two classroom observations, accumulated 15 credits, will be able to complete up to 19 credits and obtain senior teacher status if they successfully complete the five-credit training program.If the teacher has not passed the exam, then he/she can pass the training modules, pass the exam and collect 19 credits.For clarity, we explain that external mechanisms are training and testing.
🔽 Will all practitioner teachers be able to sign up for the training? Will there be limited places for registration?As for teachers who have obtained 19 or more credits with different activities but have no confirmed competencies (even one) , what can they expect?
All practicing teachers, including those who have not yet passed the exam, will be able to register for the training.
As for teachers who have gained 19 or more credits but have no proven competencies in both professional skills and subject areas. We explain that the confirmation of both competencies is a prerequisite for obtaining the status of a senior teacher.
Registration for the five-credit training will start on February 15.Teachers will be able to obtain 3 credits from subject competence training, 2 credits from professional skills training.Teachers will be able to accumulate 1to 5 credits if they successfully pass training modules.Teachers themselves will be able to select the appropriate training module for the credits they want and need.
🔽 Will the opportunity to obtain 1, 4, 7 credits through the exam remain unchanged?
As known, the opportunity for practitioners to obtain 1,4 and 7 credits through the summer exams still remains valid.
🔽 Is there any news on exams for practicing teachers and those entering the teaching profession and when will they be held?
Senior teacher status exam will be held in summer.The format and content will be the same. The change only applies to maintaining the test score. According to the previous scheme, if the teacher passed the exam twice in the same subject, the earlier result would be canceled.According to the new regulation, if the teacher passes the exam for the second time, the result of the previous exam will not be lost. He/she will be given the opportunity to choose the best outcome from the results.
🔽 Will the exams for the leader and mentor status be held in 2020?
The exam, designed for the leader and mentor teacher status, will not be held this year, as teacher professional standards need to be changed.A draft of the new standard has been developed and is under discussion.
🔽 What exemption does the “Teacher Profession Regulation” provide for senior teachers?
This year, there are a number of benefits for senior teachers who want to gain the leader status. Senior teachers who have accumulated 15 credit points including compulsory activities (2 model lessons and pedagogical practice research) and have proven successful, as an exception, are given the opportunity to undergo external observations September through December and thereby receive the leader status. Senior teachers who had errors in their research can start working to correct them and will likely be able to upload the research from April. Those with a positive evaluation will be able to undergo external observation from September to December, and by the end of 2020 the process of granting leader status will be completed. And teachers who have been given the senior status this year will have to change their status in accordance with new regulations.
🔽 Who are allowed to register as seeker teachers?
As it is known, by the order of the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia the procedures for registration of seeker teachers and the procedure for passing the seeking period were approved. The order also refers to persons who are authorized to register for the Seeker Teacher Program. As stated in the decree, the persons authorized to register as a seeker teacher are:
By 2023, any person seeking a teaching qualification should have at least a Bachelor's or equivalent academic degree and who is not required to have an academic degree/subject group relevant to the National Curriculum, as well as a person with military/sport professional education.
Persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be obliged to pass the examination of the subject they wish to teach in the general education institution before being employed as a teacher in a general education institution.
A person who was teaching in a general education institution at the beginning of the academic year 2018-2019 and was not involved in the teacher professional development and career advancement scheme is also considered to be a teacher seeker.
🔽 What does the Teaching Seeker Program include?
According to the order “On the Procedure for Registration of Teacher Seekers and Passage and Approval of the Sample and Issuance Procedure for Passing Teacher Sequences,” the Teacher Seeker Program comprises two main areas:An academic course and a pedagogical practice course designed to enhance both the theoretical knowledge of the learner as well as the acquisition and transfer of practical knowledge to a general education institution.
🔽 How will the teacher seeker courses be evaluated?
Upon completion of the Pedagogical Practice Course by the Teacher Seeker, the School Principal evaluates the documents in the teacher's professional folder and makes a decision on whether or not the Seeker will approve the Pedagogical Practice Course completion and will write about it to the Centre.
The Center evaluates the academic course of the Teaching Seeker Program, while the evaluation of the Pedagogical Practice Course is conducted by the General Education Institution. Teacher Seeker Program is considered a success if the Seeker is assessed positively in the course of academic and pedagogical practice.
🔽 Will the internship program be paid and what will be the activities during this period?
Being a teacher seeker is, of course, paid as the seekers are fully involved in the teaching process and take the teacher seeker courses at the same time. During this period, their remuneration equals the remuneration of a practicing teacher.
🔽 Why are not senior, leading, and mentor teachers given a full supplement when the number of subject hours (s) assigned to the relevant subject group (s) in the school is less than the number of subject hours required to receive the full amount of this supplement?
According to the order 126/N of the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, in such a case only foreign language teachers are given full status supplement.
The Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia considers that the above norm is discriminatory against other subject teachers. Such approaches have a negative effect on teachers' motivation and quality of teaching, and also raise doubts about the importance and relevance of other subjects.
In order to solve this problem, in July 2016, the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia initiated an appeal to the Minister of Education and demanded that the law be amended. The Minister of Education has positively resolved the issue, and the Ministry of Education has developed a draft amending Order N126/N of the Minister of Education and Science according to which: "If the number of subject hours provided for the relevant subject group at the school is less than the number of subject hours required to receive the full amount of the supplement, the teacher shall be given a supplement." Due to the changes of ministers, the decision-making has been delayed, and the issue has been suspended. We have repeatedly reminded the Ministers and demanded the amendment of the above-mentioned normative act.
The teachers of natural and social sciences, who have fair protest and concern, often address us with this problem.
We hope the problem will be resolved in the near future. The Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia does its best to remedy this.
Anano Panchulidze, Giorgi Nanobashvili
The lawyers of the Educators and scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia
February 6, 2020
Cultural - Educational Weekly Newspaper:
"New Education"