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Pupils of Other Nationalities Will Learn Georgian

May 22, 2007

kurzikizeb.gifPupils of public schools in two districts of Kvemo Kartli Region will learn Georgian History and Geography in state language. The project is implemented with the support of UNICEF and will cover 89 schools with 2100 pupils. Maya Kurtsikidze, Communication officer of the UNICEF spoke about the project and its implementation with the Human Rights Center.

Journalist: Population of Kvemo Kartli has had the problem about Georgian language for a long time. Could you tell us what are the goals of the project “In the Joint Space” as you are one of the organizers of the project?

Maya Kurtsikidze: The main goal of the project is to teach Georgian History and Geography to the pupils of public schools in the Kvemo Kartli Region. Unfortunately, those pupils never learned those subjects in Georgian language up to now. The un-Georgian population of the Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti has never participated in social activities and state procedures.  They could not involve the events because they do not know the state language. As a result, the ethnic groups have been isolated from the social activities.

The initiative intends is to teach Georgian History and Geography in state language throughout the country since 2009-2010. These subjects must be obligatory for every pupil. The project also envisages the trainings for the pupils of 10th and 11th grades. Initially the project will be implemented in two districts of Kvemo Kartli-in Tsalka and Marneuli districts. In addition to that, the project also aims to train the teachers in order to enable them to teach the subjects in future. Besides that we plan to publish adapted text-books of History and Geography. Those books will be adapted for ethnic groups. We will create the bank of terminologies in these subjects and implement interactive methods of tutoring. In addition to that, the pupils will be given some extracurricular materials besides adapted text-books.

-How long will the project last?

M. K. The UNICEF is funding the project. So, we support the project financially. The initiator of the project was the Ministry of Education and Science. As for its duration at this moment it is one-year-project however it will continue afterwards and it will cover other districts of Kvemo Kartli as well as in Samtskhe Javakheti.

-How many schools, pupils and teachers will involve the program?

M. K. Currently, 140 teachers out of 89 schools will take part in the program. As for the number of the pupils it will amount to 2100.

- People do not know Georgian in Tsalka and Marneuli districts. Have you studied the situation regarding the language knowledge and what will be your assessment about it?

M. K: Language problem is serious in those districts. I can agree with you that almost nobody knows the language there. Thus the project aims at teaching basic Georgian to them. It is quite natural that we will have some problems. There are quite old teachers who might have difficulties to learn the language at their old age. Though, I must admit that they are eager to involve the program. First of all it is necessary for them because the accreditation process of teachers has already started and the elections of the directors also finished. If they do not know Georgian, it will be difficult for them. After they learn the state language, they will be able to take competitions and take part in various projects.

-Was it difficult to reach agreement with the population or did they easily your proposal to learn subjects in Georgian?

M. K. No it was not difficult. Just the opposite, they are ready to start lessons. They have realized that without state language they cannot develop and take active part in activities and reforms which are carried out in the country. They have already realized it and the most important is that the government has already offered some new programs to these people. The aim of the project is to integrate ethnic groups in state procedures.

-What is the total cost of the project?

M. K. The project started in May. The total cost of it is 63 600 USD.

-You have mentioned Akhaltsikhe, the district with similar problems. When and what are you going to implement in that region?

M. K. We intend to implement similar project in Akhaltsikhe too. However, I cannot say whether we will carry out the project there too. The similar project will start there in September. The population from Akhaltsikhe has great desire to involve the program because they have also realized it is necessary for their future.

Eka Gulua

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