"It is impossible to move forward the trade union’s movement without solidarity, without involvement of each member and without sharing of other people's problems," – said the honorary head of ESFTUG’s Ozurgeti branch organization Rosa Goguadze.

On June 8, 2018, ESFTUG’s Ozurgeti branch organization’s N8 reporting-election conference was held in which participated 90 delegates selected by the ESFTUG’s primary organizations from 42 public schools form 2 parish schools, and from 14 pre-school institutions of Ozurgeti Municipality.

Honorary guests: ESFTUG’s president Maya Kobakhidze and vice president Natia Kordzadze, Head of Ozurgeti educational resource center Lela Imedashvili, Deputy Mayor of Ozurgeti Municipality Irakli Siradze, head of Municipality Administrative Service Giorgi Intskirveli, head of the City Hall preschool department Teimuraz Mokia, head of City Hall culture department Maizer Tseladze, head of preschool educational center Maka Chkonia, director of youth and student recreation facilities union Tamar Nadiradze, the head of education, culture, sports, youth department Marina Japaridze, principals of the public schools and kindergartens participated at the conference together with the delegates and teachers.

“In today’s developing environment, the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union occupies an important place in the world ... It is ready to implement reforms of the trade union movement, recognized in the world, to overcome the gaps and fulfill the teachers’ rights defender’s true and organizing function"- so began head of ESFTUG’s Ozurgeti branch organization Rosa Goguadze her past four-year activity report.

Leader of ESFTUG’s Ozurgeti branch organization remembered a difficult period passed by ESFTUG and noted that the organization has managed to maintain independence and self-reliance. ESFTUG started a qualitatively new phase and took effective steps in teachers’ interests and rights favor. Roza Goguadze thanked Maia Kobakhidze, the president of ESFTUG for her priceless work and she also noted the beginning of a new stage of cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science and ESFTUG in the nearest history of the trade union movement, confirming the "sectoral agreement" between the Ministry and the Trade Union.

The speaker talked about the government's decisions which were implemented on the basis of the ESFTUG’s requests in favor of public schools’ and pre-school institutions’ employees. Leader of Ozurgeti branch organization summed up the four-year activity of ESFTUG’s Ozurgeti branch organization. She called her colleagues openly talk about the problems in order to evaluate the work of the trade union objectively and critically.

The speaker explained the importance of activation of primary trade union organizations: "the trade union cannot be strengthened without informing of employees, organizing, attracting members". Regular meetings were held with local council members and primary organizations, informational documents provided by ESFTUG intensively were sent to the members, seminars and workshops were conducted. Head of Ozurgeti branch organization thanked Natia Kordzadze, vice president of ESFTUG for trainings conducted for primary organizations and union activists. Roza Goguadze emphasized that in order to raise awareness of the members, at the regional level, the trade union’s training will be activated and mechanisms of informing the members will be improved.

With the initiative of the head of Ozurgeti branch organization, for studying and stimulating the activities carried out by primary organizations was arranged the presentations of the successful primary organizations’ leaders form village Tkhinvali, Ozurgeti N1 and village Ozurgeti public schools.

The four-year work report reflected the statistical data of trainings and seminars which were conducted for promoting professional development and career advancement of members: More than 500 members participated in trainings conducted by the "Professional Development Center of Employees of Educational Institutions". It is noteworthy that the ESFTUG’s Ozurgeti organization provides all schools with an independent newspaper "My School" to get familiar with the general news in education system. With the support of the ESFTUG’s Ozurgeti branch organization, the young teachers' club "Kelapatari" is designed to facilitate the harmonious cooperation between generations and to share the experience of school life. The report of the ESFTUG’s Ozurgeti branch organization presented the initiatives of supporting members’ social-economic situation, creative events, summer sport activities, financing excursions and one-time financial supports. Important events of Ozurgeti schools and pre-school institutions were not left behind the attention. In particular, the celebration of schools’ anniversaries, celebration of the honorable teachers’ leave, visits of older teachers, meetings with newborn mothers and mothers with many children and meetings with war veterans and they were awarded with symbolic commemorative gifts.

The head of ESFTUG’s Ozurgeti branch organization introduced the participants of the conference to the requirements and proposals of Ozurgeti primary organizations: For the personnel of the youth and students’ houses and pre-school institutions, who carry out educational activities, grant the status of a teacher; Legalization of 13th salary for teachers; Introducing the pre-school institution under the Ministry of Education; Increase salaries for public schools’ teachers, administration and technical personnel; Gasification of Ozurgeti schools; Exemption teachers from transportation expenses, granting mountainous status to the village Mtispiri public school and providing teachers with municipal transport, improving infrastructure conditions in educational institutions, improving public schools’ material-technical base for improvement of pedagogical activities, increase salaries of special teachers.

Each organization should set the goal - for aspiring work in every school and all educational institutions for creating a healthy microclimate ... the leaders of the primary organizations, along with the heads of the schools, should be clear example of unity, solidarity and collegiality! "- called on the delegates leader of Ozurgeti branch organization.

In order to support the interests of the employees of Ozurgeti municipality educational sector and for support the implementation of the tasks set out by the trade union, Rosa Goguadze thanked the head of the Ozurgeti Region Educational Resource Center Lela Imedashvili, schools’ principals and the head of the Preschool Center of Ozurgeti Municipality Maka Chkonia. Ms. Rosa underlined the support and cooperation expressed by the principal of Ozurgeti public school #2 Patima Sioridze, which confirms the fact that the Ozurgeti branch organization's reporting-election conference was held in public school # 2.

The delegates, who attended the conference, thanked Rosa Goguadze, head of ESFTUG’s Ozurgeti branch organization for her work implemented in the reporting period.

Lela Imedashvili, the head of the Ozurgeti Educational Resource Center spoke about the importance of partnership with the trade union, about the personality values and experience of Rosa Goguadze: "Mrs. Rosa's status and authority cannot be added anything... She is an example and stimulus, how can you not pay attention to age if you are a hard worker, active, competent and honest protector of the society interests". Lela Imedashvili described the situation in the general education system of Ozurgeti municipality and wanted to expand the possibilities of the resource officers and to develop the psychological service in Ozurgeti region. She underlined state strategies for raising the prestige of the teacher’s profession, the necessity of acquiring the successful teacher's community to raise the teacher's authority. "There are many good teachers in Ozurgeti, who do not know the wider society," said the speaker.

ESFTUG’s president Maia Kobakhidze has received several questions in the discussion format, including in writing, with detailed analysis of the results achieved in accordance with the strategic directions of the ESFTUG. The questions were related to local problems and needs, as well as vision and practical approaches to ensuring access to quality education.

The delegates of the conference together with the ESFTUG’s president and honorary guests have discussed various current and urgent topics in the educational system.

"Ms. Rosa serves with great energy and dedication to her beloved job, though she presented her four-year report with her usual modesty. She is an instinctive, principled advocate for teachers, and is supporting the employee and doing everything for them ... "- Rosa Goguadze's work was evaluated by ESFTUG’s president Maia Kobakhidze.

The delegates of the N-8 reporting-election conference of ESFTUG’s Ozurgeti regional organization unanimously expressed their deep respect towards Rosa Goguadze and expressed the trust towards her for the next 4 years.

The Delegates of the Conference approved the Ozurgeti branch organization’s Council and elected the delegates of the ESFTUG’s #IX reporting-electoral congress.

In the final part of the conference, ESFTUG’s president and head of Ozurgeti branch organization awarded the active members and social partners with diplomas and memorable gifts.