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Davit Tsikarishvili: “School Should Not Turn Into A Subordinated Agency of the MIA”

December 27, 2010
Salome Achba

Ministry of Education and Science and Ministry of Internal Affairs announced competition in public schools – “I Love My Police.” The winners were nominated on December 22 and received computers and other prizes. The humanrights.ge interviewed the head of the legal department of the independent Trade Union of Teachers “Ertoba” Davit Tsikarishvili with regard to the competition.

-Several days ago the competition “I Love My Police” was announced in the public schools. The title of the competition is very interesting. It does not sound like a question – “Do I Like Police?” – just the opposite it is imperative sentence and means that if you are a school-pupil and citizen of Georgia you should definitely love police. The question is – why do you live it? It is noteworthy that two months ago, the MIA used astonishing methods against youth who protested the diploma exams in public schools.

When I recall my childhood, the teachers used to take us to see Georgian historical monuments. We used to visit theatres, cinemas… then we had to write compositions about them. I do not remember any similar police-propagandist competition ever took place in our school and moreover, I do not remember any pupil be awarded with expensive prizes. Even soviet propagandist machine avoided propaganda of the militia and security service. However, current regime directly inculcates similar propaganda.

-What do you mean by “expensive prizes”?  

-The winners received notebooks and other prizes which could be serious present even for a well-paid person. It is real treasure for children. They are bribing children. However, it was very interesting that a pupil in Telavi painted a caricature of a police officer instead writing a composition– the police officer had horns and tail. It is very pleasant that at least one pupil could have independent and active position and expressed his protest against the competition openly and bravely. 

-What is the main problem?

-The competition is already problem; but if we look through the dynamics of the cooperation between public schools and law enforcement bodies, the situation will seem more complicated and alarming. In 2004, the pupils were taken to prisons and pretrial detention settings on excursions. It was kind of preparatory stage for them. Afterwards, the pupils met prosecutors both in public schools and in prosecutor’s offices (if somebody wanted to teach children law and human rights, they should not have selected prosecutors for the purpose). In parallel to it, the teachers were interviewed – what measures should be taken in schools to change criminal situation? Most part of teachers ignored this questionnaire but later police started working with those teachers, who answered the questions. As a result, several teachers became police informers and denouncers. At the next stage, journalists were prohibited to enter public schools that was unprecedented impudence. Introduction of bailiffs turned schools into detention settings where even a fly cannot get into. The society had a negative reaction on it and protested the innovation- mostly after the school directors were fired and bailiffs occupied the positions of directors. 

Youth policy is not implemented in Georgia at all. Instead, the MIA and Ministry of Education actively cooperate in order to supply police with cheap spies. “I Love My Police” is part of this program.

-What do you think - did this situation start after Shashkin occupied the position of the minister of education or it started before?

-Propaganda of police and law enforcement institutions started when Kakha Lomaia was minister of education. They started excursions in prisons and pretrial detention settings and meetings with prosecutors during Lomaia was minister. It is worse than Komkavshri (Communist Union). An education institution should relay on sparing each other and uniformed people have nothing to do there. Let them leave the schools alone! The main function of the school is education and it should always be. The school should not turn into a subordinated agency of the MIA.

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