Prime Minister Announces Increased Budget for Education and Teacher Salaries at National Teacher Award Ceremony
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, October 30, 2023
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, announced at the National Teacher Award ceremony that an additional half a billion GEL will be allocated to the Ministry of Education in 2024, of which 160 million will be used to increase teachers' salaries.
"The government is committed to enhancing the prestige of your profession, and both our minister and the entire government are dedicated to this goal. We have now intensified our efforts towards this purpose. Our focus remains on improving conditions for teachers. I am pleased to announce that, as per our decision, a budget of half a billion GEL will be allocated to the Ministry of Education in 2024. Of this allocation, 160 million GEL is specifically earmarked to increase teachers' salaries. This adjustment is intended to result in an average increase of 500 GEL or more for teachers under full workload," stated Gharibashvili.
According to him, the Ministry of Education is working on a specific vision and it will be presented in the near future.
The Prime Minister also announced that teachers who have made a 'special contribution' to the development of the public and the education system will be recognized with the National Teacher Prize, accompanied by a cash award of 10,000 GEL.
Garibashvili highlighted the Government's significant initiative, a 1 billion GEL large-scale project initiated last year. This project focuses on the rehabilitation and construction of nearly 1,000 schools, with ongoing rehabilitation in 400 schools and 1,000 kindergartens.
He noted that the Education Minister engages in extensive meetings with teachers, actively listening to their recommendations, visions, and advice. The Prime Minister assured the teachers that their input and visions would be taken into serious consideration to collaboratively build a more efficient education system alongside the ministry and the Minister of Education.
"I had a conversation, I had a number of discussions with the Minister of Education and I know he holds intensive meetings with teachers, listens to your recommendations, visions, advice. Trust me, we will certainly take your vision into account to develop an even more effective system together with the ministry and the minister," the Prime Minister stated.
