Georgia

TBILISI. 16 November 2006 – Modernization of the vocational education and training (VET) system is a major purpose of the project launched today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia.

With special focus on standards-based qualifications and training system, the Ministry’s new initiative will target the needs of the labour market. The priority is given to the spheres of agriculture, construction, hospitality services, tourism, IT and art. The UNDP-funded project will provide assistance to the vocational and educational training institutions that offer programmes in agriculture and construction. It will help these institutions better implement, monitor and evaluate training programmes in compliance with the skill requirements in the economy.

The project activities will be enhanced by an assessment of the demand for labour in the training areas.

"UNDP continues support to the Government of Georgia in its efforts to strengthen educational sector as a key element accelerating the economic growth,” said Robert Watkins, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia. "We hope that this project will help people who were left to fend for themselves find new professional opportunities or enter a private sector and start small businesses.

The 10-month activity will be piloted in two VET centres – in Akhaltsikhe and Kachreti. UNDP will work together with the national and regional authorities to mobilize additional resources for the project expansion to other regions of Georgia.

The project is part of a broader package of the Government’s endeavours aiming to reform the VET system and make it responsive to citizens’ needs. The Government of Georgia has already come up with a strategy and an action plan for the VET system reform. The commitment has been recently underlined by the President of Georgia who stressed importance of the improved education system for addressing unemployment in the country. 

For press queries please contact:

Sophie Tchitchinadze, UNDP Communications Analyst: 995 32 251126, 899 196907 (mobile), sophie.tchitchinadze@undp.org