TBILISI, May 31, 2019 – The World Bank and the Government of United Kingdom (UK), in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, launched today the Strengthening Teacher Quality in Vocational Education and Training project. The project will support Georgia in raising the quality of Vocational Education and Training (VET) through improved teacher management and professional development.
"Vocational education and training are central to Georgia’s future economic growth," said Mercy Tembon, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus. “This project will provide the skills necessary for teachers to align with the demands of a changing global market.”
The project is financed by the UK’s Good Governance Fund (GGF) to the amount of GBP 1.8 million and will be implemented by the World Bank in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia.
"So many people I meet in Georgia tell me that education reform is a top priority for the whole country. I wholeheartedly agree,” said Justin McKenzie Smith, British Ambassador to Georgia. “Making sure the education system helps people to obtain the skills and competences they need for tomorrow’s economy is a crucial part of that. The British Government is pleased to be backing a transformation of the vocational education and training system which will allow citizens to play their part in shaping Georgia’s future.“
Current reforms have helped with upgrading VET infrastructure and modernization of vocational education programs. However, the performance of key staff, particularly teachers and principals, to deliver these upgraded programs and benefit from improved infrastructure and technology remains a pressing challenge. Therefore, improving their performance will be crucial to ensuring better quality and relevance of VET. As such, the project will focus on creating a comprehensive teacher management and development system, building capacity in training delivery for teachers and principals and promoting data-driven decision making.
The project aims to improve both the employability of VET graduates and the growth potential of the private sector, by better alignment of the skills of VET graduates with the demands of the labor market.
