"We hope that the seminar was useful for you and you will use this knowledge and skills at your lessons. You should be very happy and very proud, because of your trade union and your president, who does a lot for you and who can listen to you. The four days which we spent with you for us was an experience that we will share with our colleagues and pupils in Denmark. We not only provided the knowledge and skills but also received them from you. This was the sharing and exchanging of the ideas, skills, experiences. We wish you good luck and we will be pleased to host you in our schools in Denmark” -the Danish guests thanked the ESFTUG President, Vice-Presidents and all the participants for the pleasant days, for the impressions and positive emotions.

On November 30 and December 1,2,3, 2017, Catherine Lonholdt and Lis Rydahl Eilertzen, the expert-teachers from upper secondary schools of Denmark carried out the 4-days training at the ESFTUG Teachers’ Training Center in Tskneti. The topic of the trainings was -“Assessment systems and feedback culturte”.

The solidarity project – “Partnership on promoting education policy capacity, advocacy and school development in Georgia” is implemented by the National Trade Union of the upper secondary school teachers of Denmark (GL) in partnership with the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia (ESFTUG). The 18-month project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the Foundation of the Civil Society in Development (CISU).

43 teachers from the public schools of Tbilisi, also from the 13 regions of Georgia and 2 regions of Adjara Autonomous Republic participated in the training.

The president of the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union, Maia Kobakhidze greeted the teachers at the first day of the training. She wished effective working days to the Danish colleagues and training participants.

The ESFTUG president, Maia Kobakhidze, introduced the participants the Danish educational system and the results of the visit at the Danish schools. She talked about the current project and about the importance of the seminars planned under this project: “The Danish educational system is one of the best in the world. During our visit, we saw the Danish upper secondary schools, that impressed us.” On behalf of the ESFTUG members, Maia Kobakhidze thanked the National Trade Union of the upper secondary Schools of Denmark (GL) for the implementing of this project, which will help our member teachers in development of their professional skills and raising their civic awareness.

Maia Kobakhidze introduced the participants the topics of the upcoming two, 4-days seminars, which are planned under this project: “Using of the internet-communication and modern technologies in the educational process”; “Student oriented learning-teaching environment with the modern pedagogical methods”. The aim of the project is that the teachers, participating in the seminar, share all received information, news, experiences, skills to their colleges and introduce in the educational process.

At the last day of the workshop the trainers gave some time to the ESFTUG president. Maia Kobakhidze explained the seminar participants in details the work of the ESFTUG, the goals, achievements and challenges of the organization. She noted that the organization is getting stronger as a result of teachers' confidence and support. The organisation has constructive dialogue with Georgian government, intensively with the Education and Science Ministry. ESFTUG is actively involved in the process of amending of legislative acts and bylaws.

Maia kobakhidze talked about the ESFTUG requirement:–“the teachers’ base salary should be increased gradually with the estimates that for 3-5 years it should equal the average salary of public employees. To solve this problem, the Government of Georgia should develop the program of the gradual growth of teachers' salary”. She explained to the participants of the seminar how important is the fact that ESFTUG is a member of the international organisation -“Education International” (EI) and “European Trade Union Committee for Education”(ETUCE) and she itself is a member of collegial body, wih the right to vote, which means that the ESFTUG represents the interests of employees of the educational system (union members and potential members), not only in our country but also the EU level. In addition, it means to get European standards and step by step implement them in our activities, in order to form the actually the trade union having western values.

Maia kobakhidze, hoped that, the seminar participants will become more activate on their places, in case of strengthening the organization, “in order to reach each teacher”. Only with the intensive communication will be the teachers faithful to trade union ideas and sincere towards the trade union values. “Our goal is that the memebers of ESFTUG were motivated and active,”–said Maia Kobakhidze.

The Vice–President of ESFTUG Natia Kordzadze, explained the existing problems dedicated to teachers' maternity leave remuneration, and drew attention to other pressing socio–economic issues.

In the busy four days working process, Georgian teachers could not hide their fascinations and emotions received from the sharing of the Dutch colleagues' experience. The Georgian teachers together with the Dutch colleagues were forming the simulated games and were discussing needs based practical examples for the assessment and feedback.

At the end, according to the seminar program, the Georgian teachers in groups developed the future plan how to implement the Danish practice in the educational process and how to share the novelties to their colleagues, which will help the introduction of the learning-teaching modern approaches and creating the free environment in Georgian schools. Workshop participants agreed that they will use all materials, activities and methods learnt at the training at their lessons and share the results to the Danish experts, as well as other participants.

Within the project, Morten Jest, the chief editor of GL Magazine also visited Georgia, who personally acquainted Georgian teachers and observed the first day of workshop. On January, 2018, an article about the ESFTUG, about the Solidarity Project, about the Georgian teachers and Georgia will be published in “GL” magazine.

In conclusion of the training all participants were awarded with the certificates.

ტრენინგის დასასრულს, ყველა მონაწილეს სერთიფიკატი გადაეცა.