Georgian Diplomas To be Recognized in EU, Higher Quality in Need
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, May 6
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has stated that the “historic day” has come when the Georgian diplomas will be valid and recognized in Europe as the country has become a member of the European Association for Quality Education and Higher Education (ENQA).
ENQA, which is an umbrella organization, promotes European co-operation in the field of quality assurance in higher education and disseminating information and expertise among its members and towards stakeholders in order to develop and share good practice.
“It is a historic day on our Euro-Atlantic integration path, in the field, education, which is of the highest importance,” Bakhtadze said.
However, he said that Georgian higher education institutions will have to work hard to provide quality similar to European universities.
Bakhtadze, who frequently says that the two challenges of Georgia-poverty and occupation- can be defeated by the quality education and educated generation, vowed the support, as the government had decided to spend six percent of GDP on education.
“Higher education will be at the top of priorities,” he promised.
In his earlier statement, Bakhtadze said that budget spending on education will amount to 1.6 billion GEL this year and the funds will increase in the future.
“In 2020, funding will reach two billion GEL, in 2021 it will reach 2.5 billion GEL [ $927,447,000] and in 2022 it will be upwards of 3.4 billion GEL [$1,261,330,000 ]”, Bakhtadze said.
He stated that in 2022, funding will reach one-fourth of the state budget and, accordingly, six percent of the country’s GDP.
The opposition, however, says that the government’s policy towards education is superficial and each new minister changes it based on their view.
They believe that the inconsistent attitude will bring no genuine results.
