"Participation in the work of congress of senior government officials, heads of territorial organs of the Ministry of Education, local self-government representatives and educational institutions, clearly demonstrates the development of democratic processes in the country, it means not only cooperation with our organization but also the respect and support expressed towards the teachers' community. If we recall the recent history of the trade union, in the years 2010-2012, the difficult periods of unprecedented pressure on our organization, you will agree that the attitude of the government has been radically changed to the teachers and their union – teachers’ trade union. Let me greet them with your name and thank them again for coming" – said ESFTUG’s president Maia Kobakhidze.

Mikheil Batiashvili, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport addressed the delegates of the congress:

"Welcome, I welcome our foreign guests. It is a very important day,we see how interested and active people are.

Education is the most important area that our government has declared as one of the top priorities, and for future years, promoting education development is one of the important steps that should be taken in the country. This year is distinguished by other reforms in the country. This year is also important because many international organizations, such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, have recognized the development of human capital as one of the key priorities of the country's future development as one of the most important steps in the development of the country.

These annual international organizations recognize that the development of the country and the future of the country depends on how well human capital is developing in the country. Of course, development of human capital is unimaginable without quality education. Your organization, Educators and Scientists Trade Union, is the union, that future - our government as well as all major international organizations talk about.

It should be noted that recognition by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other international organizations means not only verbal support, but also the substantial resources that are meant to involve human capital. Today we mentioned the World Bank, the IMF, the European Union and other organizations, all of them, in the nearest future, have expressed full support in order to make significant shifts in the country. As for the education system, it is supported by all recognized international organizations and they express not only support for these processes but also all the support, such as international experience and resources. In addition to verbal statements, the steps that will be taken from the beginning of the next year include not only reforms, but also the Government's substantial resource support to the education sector.

The MPs are attending the congress, which will examine the discussion of the draft budget in the parliament and we will see that the next year's budget is significantly increased in education. We are very glad that education funding is one of the most important growth, which means: the development of schools, the increase in salaries of school teachers and others. It is very important not only to increase the education budget next year, but every year. In our statement we said that the average salary will increase to 1500 GEL in several years. This is the minimum promise that we must fulfill in the nearest future. I do not really like talking with empty words, everything is calculated, everything is defined in the budget and together with other results we will see the dignified remuneration of the teacher, which is very important for our teachers.

The second important direction, which is defined from next year, is the infrastructural projects, rehabilitation of schools that are facing many needs. This will be implemented in the capital, region, or small village where only a few pupils are and all such schools will be relevant to European standards. I'm glad that the next year's budget will cover financing of infrastructure projects and there has been no such increase in financing of infrastructure projects over the last few years.

We have support in science. We believe that in Georgia, not only in Georgia, any successful education system, any high quality education, is unthinkable without the development of science. This is not only our vision, but also specific activities are planned. Our country needs renewed science, because we have traditions, and we have and we had world class scientists who have created exemplary scientific schools for the whole world. Therefore, we do not believe in high quality education, without science development.

Rustaveli Foundation works actively, but for the development of Georgian science it is necessary to attract additional resources to make radically significant steps from the beginning of the next year to develop our science. We believe that the path taken by Georgia, which is focused on integration with the West, all the steps that will be implemented for the development of general education and higher education will be directed towards the rapidly and efficiently integrated European common ground.

In addition, all human rights will be protected and our teachers will have a decent future. We do not believe in successful reforms, correct steps, if we do not make for even all teachers dignified economic conditions, anywhere in the city or village. We should take care of both directions: create decent economic conditions and further increase the prestige of the teacher. Therefore, within the framework of the reforms, each step will be oriented primarily on inclusive, dignified conditions, and the starting factor will be human rights and the creation of dignified conditions for human beings. For this we will do everything and promise you that in the nearest future you will see these concrete results that we all expect.

I wish you success in the development process. I'm very glad that I'm here. I want you to wish future successes and wish our education and science system success. All of this will be done only jointly, with only joint steps and I think that the future of our country will be as successful as the pleasure given by these children.

We believe in the future of our country, we believe in our success, all this is real and achievable."

The ESFTUG’s IX Congress was attended by the representatives of the highest state and political positions of the legislative and executive government, local self-government representatives:

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Mikheil Batiashvili, Deputy Minister Irina Abuladze, Member of Parliament, Chairman of Faction "Georgian Dream - Social Democrats" Gia Zhorzholiani, the director of the Tbilisi Kindergarten Management Agency Kakhaber Gvantseladze and deputy director Irakli Turmanidze, Head of Regional Coordination Service of the Teacher Professional Development Center, Khatuna Barbakadze, Heads of Regional Educational Resource Centers: Khatuna Macharashvili (Vake-Saburtalo), Marine Vefkhvadze (Kharagauli), Merab Migineishvili (Abasha), Pasha Gulordava (Martvili), Darejan Zarandia (Senaki), Lia Jalaghonia (Chkhorotsku), Beatrisa Rusia (Khobi), Izolada Lomidze (Borjomi), Iamze Svanidze (Bolnisi), Mujhirishvili Noni (Dmanisi), David Osepaishvili (Dusheti), Manana Chikvaidze (Lagodekhi), Manana Tsutskiridze (Sagarejo), Eter Davitashvili (Dedoplistskaro), Manana Nadiabidze (Akhmeta), principals of public schools and kindergartens.

Gia Zhorzholiani, the Chairman of the Faction "Georgian Dream - Social-Democrats", addressed the delegates of the ESFTUG’s congress:

"It is a great honor for me to express my views and opinions before you. I would like to welcome all the members of the trade union, whose activities I have seen in many places and I want to tell you that your representatives in the public activity are playing a very serious and important role.

I would like to welcome foreign guests. I know intensive, collegial and equal co-operation and support, between your organization and the trade unions of foreign countries. Unfortunately, many organizations of our country and often state agencies do not cooperate in equal terms and colleagues with many countries. Often we are very dependent, and you are doing the same with equality, which is your merit and the organizations that are based on solidarity principles within the country and abroad.

It was very interesting for me the report that was presented by Ms. Maia Kobakhidze. We are very well aware of the history and difficulties that this organization had. But I would like to point out that Ms. Maia touched this in a small part of her report, and the rest was very business. The future plans were mainly related to self-criticism and the visions of how to improve the situation.

I want to make some sort of comparison - if we imagine that we are going somewhere by the car, of course we should look in the mirror to see what's going on, but if we look back, we can not move forward. That is why the critics of the situation that was in the past, not the self-critical attitude towards today and, first of all towards our work, will be a bad guide for our future development. Therefore, I would like to talk critically as the representative of both the government and the majority, which is why we have some responsibility.

Today we are talking about the teacher's salary is low and we should do everything to increase this salary. All the ministers and the government speak about it, but the growth does not happen, can not grow or grow, but not enough. This is because neither the society nor the politicians are well aware of the challenges we face, the fact that if we do not radically change the quality of education in our country, our country has no future, so we need radical changes. We talked about science and I want to tell you that in Georgia science funding is GEL 65 million a year and I consider it one of the best in the world. But, for example, in Finland, where the population is about as much as the population of Georgia, science financing is 7 billion euros a year.

Consequently, these figures can be concluded that the budget increases in this direction, but not enough. Therefore, the first thing we will do when we consider the budget, is that the priority is education and it should grow more and more than other fields. It should grow more and more than the budget and more than the GDP. The percentage growth of the latter is about 4-4.5%, as well as the budget, but the education financing does not increase.

Where are the resources to increase education funding? This is the synthesis of the two most important segments that should take radical improvement in our country. First, this is as I have mentioned, the quality of education, where the teacher’s situation is critical. If there is no high quality education and advanced science, well-trained teachers will not be able to be trained and if they do not have good training mechanisms, they will not be able to get knowledge in parallel. And the second issue, who should do it? Here was talk about civil society, which is an active society that segregates problems and cooperates with the government to solve these problems.

Without a massive there is no civil society and historically the pillars of the civil society were trade unions, religious organizations and other mass organizations. The best example that I have seen of such an organization that is in Georgia today is your organization.

We can observe this model, but it will be a successful model if you have more ambition. Your organization consists of 42.000 members, there is no similar organization in Georgia, including political parties. This is your merit.

Education reform can not be accomplished and this area can not be improved if we have such an economy as we have today. Today the calendar priority for us is vocational education, of course, every direction of education is a priority, but among them first of all is vocational education, because we need vocational education for the next 3-4 years to make radical changes in the economy, we need radical changes in the regions. If people do not have full employment places, they will not be willing to live in the regions and we will have to have 20 teachers for three children in one school, it's ineffective for both teachers, students and general economics. That is why we should create better working conditions. More than 60% of the Georgian population is employed at a fair rate, in such conditions it is unlikely to achieve any success.

In addition, in all developed countries there is a progressive tax system where people pay more for the high income, which gives the country additional incomes, which can be used for gradual increase in teachers' remuneration.

In the end you should be more active in order to change the state policy, education policy and general development policy in the country. You have the best conditions for this, the best thing and the best view to improve your work.

I would like to thank you again for the invitation, I would like to take some examples, namely, 20% of the French Senate are teachers, which is the largest representation in the Senate. Therefore, you must be more ambitious, more active and you can help other areas too.

Congratulations on holding this congress and wish you good luck!