Georgian PM highlights education reform as key to protecting national security

An insufficiently educated society is easily manipulated and exposed to external interference - in such a society, it is easy to sow hatred and spread ideologies such as Bolshevism, fascism and modern liberal fascism, said on Monday Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

In his remarks at a Government meeting, Kobakhidze noted that the upcoming higher education reform was carrying particular importance in every respect, including for strengthening national security.

“Today we are approving the concept for higher education reform. The aim of this reform is to ensure that Georgian students receive university education of the highest standards here in Georgia. We all understand the importance of education and an educated society. The most dangerous thing for a country is a society that is insufficiently or poorly educated. Therefore, we must assign special importance to education reform”, he said.

“This reform is critically important in every respect, including for strengthening national security. Those forces that deliberately weakened the education system for nine years understood well how directly national security is linked to education. An educated society can best defend the national interests, independence and security of its country. Our ill-wishers knew this, and therefore, between 2004 and 2012, they paid particular attention to weakening and disrupting both higher and general education. What was damaged in the 1990s and again between 2004 and 2012 must be fixed now - and this is the key goal of the higher education concept”, the PM continued.

Kobakhidze further added that the concept included all essential directions of the reform: institutional optimisation, improving staffing policies, developing curricula and textbooks that meet modern standards, integrating teaching and research, aligning the priorities of higher education with labour market demands, and improving the funding system.

“The Ministry of Infrastructure will also begin preparing the concept for developing the necessary infrastructure. This will include modern facilities between Tbilisi and Rustavi, as well as in Kutaisi: workspaces, auditoriums, scientific laboratories, libraries, cultural and sports infrastructure, and dormitories. We must create two small paradises for our future students”, he noted.

“Tomorrow, the Minister of Education will present the concept for general education. The education reform must be comprehensive in its content, and alongside this reform, the changes planned in the general education sector are also crucial, and the Minister will share detailed information with the public tomorrow”, the Prime Minister concluded.