Center for civil integration and inter-ethnic relations has started to conduct new research projects. The project "Education financing system and equity in Georgia" aims to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of recent education reforms focusing on equity and quality from financing perspectives, survey the existing gaps in implementation process of the reforms, provide evidence based recommendations and develop public policy for wide discussion and advocacy. The study will examine the school financing through voucher and its impact on education equity.
The project is being implemented with the financial support of USAID in the framework of the EWMI’s program G-PAC.
The specific objectives of the project:
- initiating an comparative research of school financing formula and rationale for per-capita financing
criteria against an equal opportunity for all students;
- Increase civil participation of scientists, researchers, experts, NGO representatives and wider public in
elaboration of public policies and its advocacy;
- Develop alternative financing formula per-capita where all the findings of the research are reflected and
the components of the formula, components' share and overall principles of the school financing are adjusted to
real needs of the schools.
- Develop recommendation package for advancing financing system of schools for equitable and just
education for all;
- Elaborate an effective strategy for communicating and advocacy of the developed recommendation
packages to all stakeholders;
- To put equal opportunities policy change through better financing system in the agenda of governmental
structures;
Research methodology: a) Desk-research/document review; the exploratory and comparative desk research includes intensive review, comparing and analysis of budget planning and spending reports of public and private schools for the period of 2009-2012. Since there are 2,085 public and 236 private schools across the country, the budget plans and spending reports of 210 public and 25 private schools (10% of total quantity) will be reviewed and analyzed. The selection of target schools will be based on random selection; b) The Face-To-Face Stakeholder Interviews; c) Focus Group Discussions;
Project beneficiaries of the project are:
1. Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and respective national centers by the ministry – will be provided with the policy papers and legislative recommendations for enhancing the education policy.
2. More than 470 public and private schools principals across the country will be targeted through research.
3. App. 24 students and 24 teachers will have a chance to participate in FGD and express their position towards the equity and social justice issues for education opportunities.
Indirect beneficiaries of the project are:
1. More than 2200 schools positively impacted by the results, findings, new formula recommendations and public policies elaborated within the project.
2. App. 560 000 students and more than 78 000 teachers will benefit from the better financing system and guaranteed quality education opportunities.
3. Scholars and individual researchers, NGO and think tanks, specialists of education policy and political parties – who will be actively engaged in discussion of the ongoing education financing policy with emphasis on equity.
4. Diverse groups of Georgian population generally regardless of ethnicity, belief, sex, linguistic particularities and social status.
The purpose of the project "Preparedness for multicultural instruction - teachers' education in Georgia" is to improve teacher education and professional development in terms of mainstreaming and promoting multiculturalism.
The project has three specific objectives:
• Study Georgian teacher education and professional development programs in light of multiculturalism and its relevance to existing educational needs.
• Increase public awareness of multiculturalism in the education sector and mobilize all stakeholders to advocate for policy changes that lead to more effective education about multiculturalism.
• Develop a comprehensive public policy document and recommendations package to improve teachers' competencies and effectiveness with regard to multiculturalism.
The study will evaluate the effectiveness of teacher education programs in terms of ensuring multicultural education and competencies for teaching tolerance and managing diversity in the classroom. Research will include a literature review, face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions.