Tsignagi University Is Going To Be Closed Down

Tsignagi Branch for the Ivane Djavakhishvili State University is going to be closed. The reorganization has already started in the high school. After the reform, it will become a vocational institute. The students of the first, second and third year might be forced out without diplomas. They have already been offered to move to other high schools, but the young people refuse to go anywhere. The students say they will hold protest demonstrations.

Nobody has informed the students regarding the reorganization and up-coming changes in the University. “We have heard from the lecturers that they are going to close down the Kakheti branch of the University and to establish some institute on its base. We, the students of the first, second and third year will not receive diplomas.  They will give us only certificates which will have no legal power. We do not care what they are planning to do in the university-reorganization... we demand they keep their promise and grant us Bachelor’s Degrees when we leave the institute,” said the students of the Law Faculty.

The administration of the institute confirms that a reorganization and some changes will take place in the Tsignagi Branch of the University. The rector Gaioz Nadirashvili said that they had received letters from the Tbilisi State University and Ministry of Education which stated that every branch of the state university must cease functioning with their old status by the end of the year. The reform is envisaged under the Georgian Law on “Vocational Institutes.”

“By the end of 2007 all branches must have ceased their activities under their old status. Vocational institutes must be established in their place which will be next level after the secondary school or a college. Students will study four years at the vocational institutes and will be granted with Bachelor’s Degree. In addition to that, we might have one or two trades in Master’s degree too. Since we have stopped functioning as a branch of the State University, we will not accept new students this year,” said Gaioz Nadirashvili.

Journalist: Mr.Gaioz, will the students of the first, second and third year receive their diplomas?

G.N. Students of the fourth and fifth year will receive their diplomas without any complications. As for the third year students, we have not settled yet. We wanted to send those students to other high schools like those from the first and second year, but the students of the third year have finished their classes and completed the amount of the credits too. The transfer of those students to other high schools requires additional expenses. The students say that they will not pay for anything.

Representatives of the Kakheti based NGOs claim that the reason for abolishing the university is the building where the branch of the State University is located. “The building is situated in very strategic area in Tsignagi. Not only Tsignagi but most part of the Kakheti region can be viewed from the building. In the past the building belonged to the Tourist Center. Nowadays, everything is sold out in Tsignagi. Foreigners purchase the buildings and move into town. According to our information, they plan to start tourist organization, hotels and restaurants in university’s building. Besides that, they plan to arrange a president’s residence there. Moreover, they say the building is already sold,” said representatives of the Human Rights Center’s Kakheti Office.

Neither the rector nor deputy rector of the University denies the information. However, they have not seen anything. They have heard the news from unofficial sources but have never received any official letter regarding the purchase. “Nobody has demanded us to leave the building officially. However, they say that after the university is turned into vocational institute, it will move to the building of the former Animal Veterinary College in the small town of Tsnori in the Signagi District,” said Deputy Rector Maia Tofuria.

“I told the students that I did not have any answers to their questions. I am waiting for the changes myself,” said Nadirashvili.

The students of the Kakheti Branch for the State University threaten to hold protest demonstrations if they remain without diplomas.

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti