During the reporting period, the ESFTUG continued its active efforts to deepen relationships with international and foreign partner organizations.
1. In November 2022, at the initiative of Mr. Revaz Javakhishvili, Principal of Tbilisi Public School No. 41 named after M. Grushevsky, an international trade union delegation visited the school, which was hosting over 500 displaced students from Ukraine, from primary to 11th grade. Following the visit, the Vice President of the Ukrainian Education Trade Union, Olga Chabaniuk, issued a statement:
“Thank you to Georgia for your solidarity and support! This must be shared with the world! The efforts of the Georgian government, the Ministry of Education, and the school administrations in supporting Ukrainian children and teachers are invaluable! Why didn’t we, Ukrainians, know about this before? Why is the rest of the world still unaware?!”
2. Maia Kobakhidze, President of ESFTUG, is a member of the decision-making body of the European trade union movement—the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE)—and represents Georgian teachers at the European level.
During the reporting period, Maia Kobakhidze participated in five committee sessions. At the committee meeting held on March 20–21, 2023, in Brussels, titled "Analysis of Teachers’ Needs in Europe and Strategies for Strengthening Teacher Trade Unions," practical guidelines were developed. At the same time, following the request of the Presidents of the teacher unions of Georgia, Latvia, and Ukraine, the special commission of Education International (EI) made the decision to suspend the membership of the Teachers' Union of the Russian Federation.
3. In 2023, during Europe Days, ESFTUG presented its organizational work, achievements, and activities, and outlined the needs for improving teaching and learning in Georgia. The union showcased its efforts to protect the interests of employees in educational institutions, promoted their professional development, and highlighted activities implemented within the framework of European and global partnership projects.
4. On July 11–13, 2023, the ESFTUG President and Executive Vice President participated as delegates in the 9th Online Congress of Education International (EI)—the global federation of teacher trade unions. The congress was held under the theme:
"Grow and Strengthen Our Unions! Make Our Profession Attractive! Defend Democracy!"
5. From October 2–6, 2024, ESFTUG took part in the European Week of Teachers, organized for member organizations of ETUCE. As part of the ongoing two-year campaign "Make Teaching Attractive," the union participated in the ETUCE online conference titled:
"Achieving More through European Social Dialogue!"
6. In October 2023, a roundtable of education trade unions from European countries, ETUCE affiliates, was held in Prague, focusing on:
"The Role of Education Trade Unions in Enhancing the Status of Teachers and the Attractiveness of the Profession."
At the decision of ETUCE leadership, the ESFTUG President delivered a presentation titled:
"The Voices of Young Members to Build Stronger Unions!"
7. On November 8, 2023, the European Commission’s “Georgia 2023” report was published. Chapter 19 of the report cited the sectoral agreement signed between ESFTUG and the Ministry of Education of Georgia as a model of social partnership in the country.
8. On November 15, 2023, in Brussels, a high-level event was organized jointly by ETUCE and the Danish Union of Early Childhood and Youth Educators (BUPL) under the theme:
"The Importance of Early Childhood Education: Attracting, Retaining, and Valuing Staff."
The ETUCE European Director noted that the challenges in early childhood education are identical across most European countries. These challenges must be addressed through social dialogue, the development of action plans, and the active involvement of education trade unions in the decision-making process.
9. Danish-Georgian Partnership:
From April 12–17, 2023, a group of 28 upper secondary school students and two teachers from Gammel Hellerup Gymnasium—a UNESCO-certified high school in Copenhagen—visited Georgia.
On April 13, 2023, with the support of Tamar Barisashvili, Chairperson of the ESFTUG Didube-Chughureti District Organization, Tbilisi Public School No. 169 hosted the Danish students and teachers.
10. On March 10, 2024, at the initiative of Maia Tsikoridze, a mentor teacher and participant in the Danish-Georgian project, Danish expert-teachers and representatives of the Danish Education Trade Union (GL) visited Kutaisi Public School No. 13.
Through the efforts of the Danish-Georgian project coordinators and participating teachers, three national and one international conference were organized:
11. On July 1, 2023, a national conference was held titled: "Introducing Danish Teaching Methodologies in Georgia and Sharing Achievements."
Around 400 teachers participated in the event, and 12 teachers delivered presentations.
12. At the initiative of Tamila Tamazashvili, Principal of Tbilisi Public School No. 215, and with the support of Eka Chelidze, leader of the ESFTUG Tkibuli district organization, expert in authorization, and ESFTUG Danish-Georgian project coordinator, two national conferences were held under the theme:
"Implementing Danish Teaching Methodologies in Georgia" — one hosted by Tbilisi School No. 215 and the other in the Dedoplistskaro municipality.
13. On March 9, 2024, an international conference was held at Akaki Tsereteli State University titled:
"Best Practices from Denmark for Future Success in Georgian Schools."
The conference was attended by 8 Danish expert-teachers and 400 teachers from across all regions of Georgia. Fifteen Georgian teachers gave presentations.
14. In July 2024, a 6-member ESFTUG delegation (including 4 active teachers) participated in the 10th World Congress of Education International (EI) in Buenos Aires, held under the theme:
"Go Public #FundEducation.”
The congress adopted a resolution: "Strengthen Our Unions, Make Our Profession Attractive, Defend Democracy!"
15. At the 2024 ETUCE Conference held in Budva, titled:
"Fighting for the Future of Public Education in a Social Europe!"
ESFTUG was represented by a 5-member delegation, including 3 active teachers.
16. At the international conference in Krakow, Poland, marking the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust—which brought together representatives from teachers’ unions across the United States and 20 European countries—the President of ESFTUG presented historical facts about the 2,600-year coexistence of Georgian and Jewish people, including acts of heroism by Georgians who saved Jewish lives during the Holocaust.
The conference emphasized the crucial role of teachers and education trade unions in shaping a peaceful future in a polarized world, underlining the need for greater attention to history education in schools.
A powerful message was shared: “Memory passes on to the third generation, and then it disappears. Let us protect history.”
17. Since January 2025, the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia (ESFTUG) has been actively engaged in the European Commission project “Balancing Artificial Intelligence in Education,” in partnership with ETUCE and the teacher unions of Denmark, Finland, Portugal, and Ireland. This engagement is further evidence of ESFTUG’s growing international role.
18. In December 2022, at a European Commission-organized meeting, the ESFTUG President presented a report on “Youth Employment in Georgia.”
19. On October 24, 2024, representatives of ESFTUG participated in a high-level forum organized by the European Commission.
20. In May 2025, at a session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the ESFTUG President delivered a presentation to representatives of EU candidate countries, providing an overview of the state of social partnership in Georgia and its outcomes. The speech highlighted:
“The role of social partnership and civil society in supporting the EU enlargement transition process.”
21. In July 2024, in Houston, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) held its congress under the theme: “Real Solutions for a Better Life.”
The President and Executive Vice President of ESFTUG participated as part of the international delegation, which included leaders from 33 education trade unions across 22 countries, including 10 European nations.
At the official meeting of the international delegation, Maia Kobakhidze expressed gratitude to AFT President Randi Weingarten and the entire AFT team for 20 years of effective partnership and friendship between AFT and ESFTUG.
“Over the 20 years of our partnership, we have participated in four international projects and retrained nearly 2,000 civic education teachers. Within these projects, we arranged three-stage internship programs in the United States for nine teachers. During the crisis and displacement period of ESFTUG (2010–2012), we received unprecedented support from AFT.
Alongside professional assistance for Georgian teachers, this marks the 8th AFT Congress in which we have participated as international guests. We are deeply grateful for your continued support!” — stated Maia Kobakhidze during the AFT Congress in Houston.
22. In May 2025, the ESFTUG delegation participated in the international scientific congress of the Kazakh Teachers' Union, where concrete plans were set to deepen cooperation.
In her speech, ESFTUG President Maia Kobakhidze remarked:
“You will likely agree that the representation of Georgian teachers in Europe’s and the world’s most respected organizations, the allocation of high-level delegate quotas to ESFTUG for key trade union events, the President's involvement in the decision-making body of the European Education Trade Union Committee, and participation in high-level European Commission forums—all confirm the recognition and image of ESFTUG at the international level.
We have institutionalized the participation of trade union activists in international organizational events. The more educators, active members, and leaders participate in international trade union forums and learn from successful experiences, the stronger we will become!”