GOOD PEDAGOGUE+HARD-WORKING STUDENT = GOOD EDUCATION

By. Sophico Sichinava

I n his article Jeff Silverman, an American journalist living and working in Georgia says that foreign countries have a classic example of influencing other countries by seizing a grip on, first, energetic system and, secondly, on education.

Therefore, education implies social economic safety. On March1, the Parliament passed “principal directions of higher education development” at the second hearing. It occurred in the situation when everybody talked about bad laws on education in Georgia. There are two hundred twelve educational establishments in Georgia of which 200 ones do not meet the minimal requirements of the law. What are the ways of solving this problem and what is going on in higher education establishments. What is the opinion of education system flagship – the Tbilisi State University.
Mr. Royne Metreveli, TSU rector speaks to us on the problems of higher education.
– Mr. Royne, the Georgian Parliament passed a law on the principal ways ofhighereducationdevelopment on March 1. As far as we know, you had some comments on the documents. Can you say whether it was taken into consideration?
– As it turned out, work on principal directions was too early. Its initiator was one of the Parliament fractions. A letter was sent to the Euro Council. The answer was positive. As far as I know, some part of the program is financed by the SOROS foundation. It is a good thing, in a way. We sent the document without any explanatory card to the rectors who resent us their comments. On February 13 we submitted the comments to the Parliament. When debates in the Parliament began, I thought it necessary to clear the situation. The authors of the documents agree that this document is still to be developed. That is why I offered them to consider the extent of considering our comments. It so came about that a programme was adopted. The main thing now is to improve the programme so that we would not be ashamed of sending it. to Euro council or SOROS, it must have a suitable level.
– How came that this programme exists in Georgia with us taking 60 million worth credit
that envisages for the program.
– There is a real reform in higher education systems. I can say it without any exaggeration.
Already in 1994, there was a conception of higher education. It was created by TSU and followed by other educational systems. It so came about that the system has really changed. We should not abandon a Soviet model. It has many positive features so we must take only rational from it. Similar to it, there are many positive features in European and American models. Our conception envisages for it. In 1995, there was a two-stage course. Four years of bachelor course and two years of master course. It produced a positive result: negative features that were typical for narrow specialty straightened. Our conception was shared by all higher education establishments. In the conditions of market economy there arose a need for a renewed approach. With this purpose, management and marketing specialists were trained. There are many former pedagogues as well as many new ones. We introduced new manuals. Much is done and we know that there is still much to be done. Publication of manuals poses a great problem, but it does not concern all manuals. Professors, departments and faculties have no manuals that was not in production. We do our best to publish these manuals and to provide students with them.
There is another problem – the problem of the quality of manuals. You asked me what caused us to approve of this program. Perhaps, it is the fact that we do not have good law on education and it has to be passed.
– Why is not there a direct talk about passing a law?
– It is because I know that passing a law will be the second stage. Program authors envisaged for it. In general, when we speak about education it is important for one to know this subject well. Today, everything and everybody are scorched. It must not effect higher education. The talk is about taking reforms. The reform must certainly be implemented and we are now ready to do it. Can one retain professors’ salaries and at the same time demand anything special from them?
– What is the salary of professor-teachers.
– 60 GEL. Moreover, in the conditions of the University extraordinary status. We add 50%. It turns out that the professor University budget sector receives 90 GEL all in all.
– Are you acquainted with your colleagues? What is the similar salary in the European educational establishments?
– I asked a rector of John Hopkins University what his salary was. This question caused him to laugh. He said that it was a bad year for him so that he received 800 thousand dollars. Later I learned that his income totaled 2 million dollars. It is impossible to compare our salaries. Professor receives, at least, 7-8 thousand dollars per month. There are also a senior professor who receives even more including other benefits and social security.
– What is the difference of our programs with their ones.
– Our manuals are based on the American and European programs. The difference is not a great one. Programs were absolutely renewed. I am a UNESCO member. We make all issues that come to the education and research sphere of UNESCO available to the public. We are aware of all novelties. I would like to say that no matter what kind of reform is implemented, there are two personages in the educational system – good teacher and hard-working student. Technical point is essential. We mean that a good teacher must have new methods. We try to exclude monologue system and we involve students in dialogues in special courses. However, in spite of all economy is certainly important. If economy improves, training courses will, certain ly, become more efficient.
– I think that teachers who work in such conditions are real heroes. We managed to provide the University with permanent electricity. We managed to pay out salaries in hard economic conditions. It was a great work.
– Today there are many new higher education establishments. Do you think that this problem must be settled by life or law?
– There are great mistakes in this sphere. There is a legal framework that is quite a good one. We need a basis, professors and budget for establishing a higher education institution. Officially, there are 212 private education institutions. I doubt that at least 20 of them meet the elementary requirements. It is necessary to perform accrediting. Letter of accreditation must not be available to all educational institutions.
– The important thing is that these institutions deceive young people and their parents. There are fourteen departments in the faculty of law and it turns out that all academics come from our countries. The same situation is observed in economic faculties. I can imagine what things are like in private sector. I think that the government made a grave mistake.
– Do you think that the direction pursued by the Parliament envisages for the settlement of the program?
– There is a text about the possibility of settling this problem. However, it does not say anything about the ways of settling it. There is a great “obsession” with higher education in Georgia. The credit council must come in force and accrediting must be performed soon. It is problematic, of course. Yet, 2-3 private sectors have a right to function.
– State University became a source of training serious cadres. What is the situation like today?
– I think that TSU performs its responsibilities up to the present. I would like to say that I am content with everything. We preserved three economic faculties. The fourth one is pure commercial. I think we do not need as much.
– The former cadres in our University are the same as before: Paata Gugushvili, Irakl Mikeladze, Koiava, Vasil Chintladze. They were vice deputies of the department. Today, we have their students. It is a different time now. We need maximum information and we must meet the new requirements of the state. The old generations brought up on the principles of Soviet economy will not be able to meet the new requirements. Planning must be different now. Unfortunately, it is not so nowadays.
– What are the perspectives and plans of the University development?
– First of all, the number of matriculants must be more limited. There have been some interesting innovations in the University. Incidentally, we have very good contacts including economists. They have contacts with France, Germany, Sarbona. Our students were sent abroad and they came back with interesting materials. Very often, foreign specialist read lectures to our students. Such professional as f.e. Stenley Fisher is our honourable doctor. He has read several lectures to our students. Foreigners are our usual guests. They provide us with grants that go on the equipment of several computer rooms. The computerization program in Georgia is already settled in Georgia.