Georgian PM said national education goal plan “based on patriotism, national spirit”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said the new document on national goals for the education system had been finalised and was “based on values and principles such as patriotism and national spirit”.

The PM said the Government wanted to “ensure that proper values are instilled in its people, especially its youth”.

By basing education on proper principles, the quality of education of the youth will improve, and they will gain a better understanding of values. The Ministry of Education and Science will continue to work towards this goal”, he said, adding the education system faced “challenges including global trends and negative risks”.

Kobakhidze said the document would “improve educational programmes and resources and the school environment”, ensuring goals set for schools were achieved.

He noted the previous document had been created in 2004 and had not changed for two decades.

Therefore, it was necessary to revise the document to make it more relevant to the current times. The Ministry of Education ensured the preparation of the draft of the relevant document and public discussions were held with representatives from various fields, including the Parliament, relevant Government institutions, experts in the field, representatives of the school community, teachers, students, parents, school principals, private school principals and students”, he said.

The PM added the document had been revised to “reflect patriotism and national spirit, stately thinking, respect for the institution of the family, state language, history and culture”.

He said it also involved to instil “ethnic diversity and cultural heritage, free, democratic and peaceful society, construction of legal and social state, sustainable development and community well-being, inclusion, tolerance and fairness, high civic awareness, public moral and moral and ethical principles”.

The Government head also mentioned “rights, obligations and social responsibility, environmental awareness, healthy lifestyle and physical, aesthetic, socio-emotional development, analytical and critical thinking, academic knowledge and literacy, high culture of communication, digital citizenship, creativity and news receptivity” as elements included in the new plan.