“Walking in the streets of Denmark, you see that everyone is happy, smiling... everyone is hurrying somewhere, riding a bike... The most precious and valuable thing there is time... it often rains and they miss the sun… here in Georgia there is the sun and warmth but people walk with bored, sad faces and the most wasted thing is time… our host organization – GL (The Danish National Union of Upper Secondary School Teachers) has a long history, it was founded in 1899 and our Danish colleagues have long realized the essence and strength of unity… such unity demonstrates high civic awareness and respect for European values!” – Lika Chkhaidze, Tbilisi public school N32, Georgian language and literature teacher
““You and me are we” –this makes everything clear! This alone makes you understand where you are going and what phenomenon you are dealing with… You enter the school hall and see the statement “everything seems impossible until it’s done” by Nelson Mandela”. – Jaba Labadze, history teacher at Ekvtime Takaishvili Khashuri Municipality Surami public school N2. The member of the top five finalists of the Teachers’ National Award 2017.
“It is striking to see the high level of educational-collaborative culture in schools; High motivation of students - attitude towards learning process, all lessons are student-centered and interactive. Students' independence, freedom is felt in all relationships. They can perform assignments in any area of the school. Such approaches enable the learner to perform the assigned task in a comfortable environment, on the other hand, to cooperate with the group beyond the eyes of the teacher and to perform the task in due time. "- Ekaterine Chelidze, Tkibuli public school N6 geography mentor teacher, the chairperson of the ESFTUG Tkibuli county organization.
“Our Danish colleagues share their experiences ... They explain how they have succeeded and from their practices we have to choose what and how to fit into the Georgian educational environment and reality. The main focus of this project is to strengthen the role of the teacher and to contribute to the development of educational policy in Georgia. “ – Natia Gabroshvili, Gori public school N7, Georgian language and literature teacher, the chairperson of the ESFTUG Gori county organization.
“All the hosts in and out of schools have been waiting for us with great love. It was also reflected in the fact that the school walls were decorated with Georgian national flags. " Muradkhan Eminov, Gardabani public school N4 and Gardabani municipality Kalanino public school Mathematics teacher, Azeri trainer.
“We explored the monuments of historical importance, walked around the famous Copenhagen park Tivoli Garden. We got to know Danish cuisine, our Danish partners also hosted us in their homes, which helped us see the Danish educational policy in a variety of historical, social, and domestic contexts. ”- Azniv Kirakosian, Akhaltsikhe public school N4 special teacher of Georgian as a second language, Armenian speaking trainer
The Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia in close partnership with the Danish National Union of Upper Secondary School Teachers and with the support of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been implementing a partnership and support project - "Advocacy Capacity Building for Education Policy and School Development in Georgia in Collaboration with the ESFTUG”.
In 2017-2018, more than 170 teachers from 40 Georgian public schools across the country have already been given the opportunity to be actively involved in the pilot phase of the project. from 2019 in the framework of the above mentioned project, school policy-making training seminars are planned with the participation of Danish trainer experts whose direct beneficiaries will be 240 upper-secondary level socially active, leading, results-oriented, motivated ESFTUG member teachers across the country. With the facilitation of the teachers-delegates who took the part in the Danish-Georgian Exchange program during September 1-7, 2019, direct beneficiary teachers participating in the workshops will, using Danish experience, work on strategies and modules tailored to the Georgian reality for school system development.
The project involves activities to be undertaken at the regional and school level with the involvement of other actors in the education system and with the support of the ESFTUG.