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A Show of Independence

March 13, 2007

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Since public schools became legal entities, they have been granted with total independence. The school administrations together with supervision councils should identify the school strategy; they are also in charge of fund expenditure that is allocated from the state budget. Voucher for pupils were increased in 15 lari since January and reached 235 lari for each pupil. The Ministry of Education advised school administrations and supervision councils to use that money for teachers’ salaries. However, the teachers said that the Adjara Ministry of Education enacted a new program including new ‘recommendations’. Thus the program has become obligatory.

The Ministry of Education in Adjara enacted a new program to provide pupils with new uniforms. However, the program does not state who should pay the money for uniforms. Aslan Chanidze, member of the supervision council of the Barumi Public School #2, said that they have learned about the novelty from the director of the school. Madona Zoidze, member of the supervision council of the Batumi Public School # 18, said that their school director had not informed the teachers about the program.

The money should have been transferred on voucher within 15 lari. “The money should have been spent on teachers’ welfare. However, in parallel to it, an instruction delivers from high ranking officials, which stated that the money should be spent on pupils’ uniforms. I do not appreciate the program according to what school takes up a new responsibility,” said Eter Kvachadze, a teacher of the Public School # 1.

Zurab Geladze, the chairman of the supervision council of the Batumi Public School #1, gets irritated on the fact that he cannot use the power he was granted with under the law. “The question has become a serious problem for me as a chairman of the supervision council.  It is unacceptable to send and follow the letter. If so, who am I and what is my responsibility? I was elected by parents and they trusted me. If I am obliged to follow the letter written on one page, there is no use of my being here. The director of the school can also do that without my assistance,” said Geladze.

Since the educational institutions became legal entities, only schools have power to spend voucher funds. Expert Paata Papava underlines this particular right of the schools. “If the law grants me with power to make decisions independently, I should really make decisions and not somebody else. Otherwise, it is a show of independence,” said Papava.

There are some people who support the idea of implementing the program and purchasing uniforms for pupils. Aslan Chanidze said that the program was a bit altered at the Adjara Ministry of Education. “The Ministry of Education changed the decision after we refused to follow it. We were offered to choose the uniforms for our school pupils.”

According to Gia Abuladze, the head of the Batumi Resource Center, “The program is under way and it should be followed. It makes no difference who will implement it. If the school takes responsibility of financing, it would be good. Maybe the Ministry of Education will apportion some money for self-financing; however, as far as I know nobody has objected the program,” said Abuladze.

The head of the Batumi resource center denies the fact of giving directives to the supervision councils of Batumi based public schools. He said that they have simply informed them about the program and afterwards he gave consultations several times.

 Irma Zoidze, Batumi

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