A free training center will be established at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Shota Meskhia State Teaching University of Zugdidi to train university entrants living in the occupied regions of Georgia for the Unified National Examinations. The announcement was made by State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili at a meeting with TSU entrants on November 21. The Minister unveiled the program designed for university entrants living in the occupied regions as part of the government’s peace initiative “Step towards a Better Future.”
Rector of TSU, George Sharvashidze, representatives of the Office of the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, as well as the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport attended the presentation.
Rector Sharvashidze said that university entrants will be able to undergo training in two locations – Tbilisi and Zugdidi. “It is a very interesting program. Students will be provided with learning materials, accommodation and teaching. Then, they will have an opportunity to pass an adapted test to further continue their studies in a selected university,” the Rector said.
State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said that learning environment is extremely difficult for the young people living in Georgia’s occupied regions. Just therefore, they need more promotion that will help them achieve success in the future. “The free training center will be established for university entrants living in the occupied regions. Given that they have to get education under extremely difficult conditions, and that the process is actually hampered in Gali and Akhalgori districts, because children are not allowed to receive education in their native language, the state decided to establish the free training center, where they will be trained in desirable subjects to then enter higher educational institutions through a simplified rule,” Tsikhelashvili said.
Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Natia Zedgenidze noted that the Ministry of Education will finance training and accommodation for entrants living in the occupied regions. “Our main goal is to support the persons living in the occupied regions and give them access to higher educational institutions,” she said.
TSU student Dachi Akhvlediani hailed the program as “a very good chance” for the entrants living in the occupied regions. “It is a very important program, because school education of children living in the occupied regions does not meet the requirements of the Unified National Exams and therefore, they find it difficult to pass entry exams. This program will provide a good chance to young people,” he noted.
The program’s pilot version will enter into force in February 2019 and the full course will be enacted from September 2019.
