The Government of Georgia and the World Bank launches the Innovation, Inclusion and Quality project in Georgia. Sebastian Molineus, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus and Mikheil Chkhenkeli, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia have presented the project at an event held at the Ceremonial Palace of Georgia today.
The $102.7 million project aims to support investment in human capital through greater access to preschool education, and enhancements aimed at improving the quality education and the learning environment.
Mikheil Chkhenkeli addressed the audience and talked about the results that the project will bring to the education system of Georgia.
“In recent years, our ministry has made significant progress in reforming the education and science system. The large-scale and comprehensive reform aims at taking education outcomes to a whole new level and ensuring the development of human capital, which is a key precondition for economic growth. In this process, international support is crucial. I would like to once again express my gratitude on behalf of the Ministry to the international donor organizations for their tremendous support in achieving sustainable results. Today’s event is another clear example of the cooperation that the Ministry attaches great importance to. I would like to emphasize the fact that the World Bank has been Georgia’s leading partner since 1992” – says Minister.
As he explained the World Bank Group’s Framework for Partnership provides support to Georgia in three areas: inclusive growth and enhancing competitiveness, investing in human capital and improving the country’s sustainability.
“The active and fruitful cooperation between the Government of Georgia and the World Bank will bring tangible and stable results for the education system,” says Minister.
According to Sebastian Molineus World Bank supports the Georgian government’s efforts to promote the development of the new generation.
“We are excited to support the Georgian Government’s commitment to the new generation,” says World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus. “We believe that innovative, inclusive and high-quality education is essential for human capital development and will allow to narrow the skills gap between learning outcomes and labor market expectations.”
The project has five overall goals: (1) expanding access to and improving the quality of early childhood education and care; (2) fostering quality teaching and learning in general education; (3) strengthening financing options and promoting adherence of higher education to international standards; (4) system strengthening and stakeholder communication; and (5) supporting project management, monitoring, and evaluation.
In the coming six years, the infrastructure component of the I2Q project entails building up to five new schools, rehabilitating about 60 existing schools, and introduction of over 150 child-centered and modern preschool education programs for successful transition to school. Overall, the project is expected to benefit around 116, 000 preschool and general education students.
The project will also ensure that special consideration is given to gender equality and support to vulnerable populations, including students and schools with low socioeconomic status located in rural and remote areas, as well as ethnic minorities and students with diverse learning needs. Additionally, the project will also support students in higher education institutions with over 45 grants for modernized academic programs with greater linkages to labor market.
The project is closely aligned with the World Bank’s latest Country Partnership Framework 2019-2022 for Georgia and will support the Georgian Government’s 2018-2023 Education Reform Agenda. The project was approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors on May 29, 2019, and the Financing Agreement was signed on June 18 of the same year.
