Georgia

Last update: February, 2022

The Ministry of Culture, Sport and Youth and the Ministry of Education and Science are the central government bodies responsible for arts and cultural education and training in Georgia.

The arts education system (similar to the general education system) consists of three main stages:

Stage I: primary education, including art schools (of music, fine arts, dance etc.). According to data from 2018, there are 258 such schools in Georgia.

Stage II: secondary vocational education, including art colleges (of art, music, dance, cultural education). In 2018 there were 26 art colleges in Georgia.

Stage III: higher education in culture is regulated by the Law on Higher Education which provides for specifics on art education in some issues. Today there are 12 institutions of higher art education in Georgia.

In 2004, after a long debate, the Law on Higher Education was drafted by the reformed Ministry of Education and Science. Following this Law, the first Universal National Exams were held in 2005. Difficulties have been created for art institutions, however, the unified system of assessment cannot cater for the specifics of practical art specialties. Consequently, discussions have been held between the Ministry of Education and Sciences and the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Youth to resolve the issues in arts education.

Delimitation of responsibilities of the two ministries is specified in the Law on Higher Education (Chapter III, Article 2, paragraph 2). Under the Law on Higher Education, Chapter 8, the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Youth of Georgia is the central body for the formation and implementation of policies in education, art and cultural heritage.

However, the institutional and curriculum accreditation of an art institute of higher education shall remain within the competence of the Ministry of Education and Science.

Higher education in Georgia consists of three stages: bachelor programmes, master programmes and doctorate programmes.

The National Examinations Centre is a legal entity of public law which ensures execution of Unified National and Joint Masters Exams and is authorized to carry out national assessments.

The first strategic goal of the Culture Strategy 2025, adopted in 2016, is devoted to raising awareness and education issues:

“Strategic Goal: Awareness Raising and Education

Goal: Culture and creativity is integrated across all levels of the education system and the public is aware of its importance

1.2. Objective: Culture and creativity constitute an integral part of formal pre-school, general and non-formal education. They develop creative skills and enhance interest in culture among children and youth.

1.3. Objective: Higher and vocational educational institutions produce highly qualified professionals for culture and other related fields, create interdisciplinary programmes for students studying culture, technologies, business and other areas and develop academic research in collaboration with research institutions.

1.4. Objective: Professional training and life-long learning programmes fully meet the requirements of the contemporary labour market and contribute to the increasing competitiveness of culture professionals.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs includes 14 LEPLs of art education, including 4 higher education institutions.

Last update: February, 2022

The Ministry of Education and Science has elaborated the new programme for fine and applied arts and music to be taught within all the grades. Within the 1st and 2nd grades, art subjects are mandatory and in 3rd grade they are optional. The correlation of subjects in the fine and applied arts and music shall be equally distributed by terms in 8-10th forms.

Innovations are envisaged in the New National Curriculum

Amendments made in the National Curriculum came into force from 2018-2024 academic years. A normative document was created with the involvement of more than 150 experts. The following priorities are included in the National Curriculum: literacy, media literacy, digital literacy, quantitative thinking, plural lingual competency and social and civil skills. All of these topics will support the self-realization of schoolchildren.

The National Curriculum envisages teaching of new subjects as well

IT will be introduced as a separate subject from the first form. This subject will envisage two selective courses in XI-XII forms: one course covers the elements of informatics and programming and the second one covers developing of the concepts connected with design and multimedia.

In the following year, one more selective subject – world culture - will be taught in XI-XII forms. It is being piloted in 14 schools currently. The aim of teaching this subject is to assist youth in developing skills of behavior in extreme situations.

Broadening the list of selective subjects is very important

Until recently, students were able to choose only 5 subjects. However, 40 subjects are being offered through the new curriculum. Schoolchildren will be able to choose such subjects as mythology or 19th-20th century European literature, history of Georgian art, folklore ensembles, history of ballet, contemporary music, safety etc. Introducing these subjects will support competition among schools and develop several academic directions as the schools will try to offer interesting subjects to the schoolchildren.

Last update: February, 2022

The higher education system in Georgia consists of three cycles:

• First cycle – Bachelor's Degree (240 credits);
• Second cycle – Master's Degree (120 credits); and
• Third cycle – Doctor's Degree (180 credits).

The following are the higher education institutions in Georgia:

• College
• Teaching University
• University

External quality assurance in Georgia is carried out through an accreditation process which is conducted by the National Education Accreditation Centre.

The state recognizes the qualification documents issued only by an accredited higher education institution or equated thereto. Today there are 12 universities and professional schools in Georgia:

• 4 universities dedicated to art;
• 3 specialized colleges of art;
• 3 general universities in which there are centres or faculties of arts; and
• 2 private institutions in which there are centres or faculties of arts.

In May 2005, Georgia acceded to the Bologna process. The new Law of Georgia on Higher Education obliges the institutes of higher education of Georgia to pursue the main priorities of the Bologna process, such as transferring to the three-step system of higher education, quality assurance and accreditation, European Credits Transfers and Storage (ECTS) system, mobility, involvement of students in the decision-making process, compatibility of curricula with the European system etc.

Since 2005, a new model entitled "Money Follows a Student" has been in operation. Two phases of institutional accreditation have also been carried out under the Universal National Examination system, which has secured assessment of entrants by the unified methods and elimination of corruption in this sphere. The cooperation of the Ministry of Education and Sciences with the civil community is in progress.

Under Order N 407 of the Minister of Education and Sciences of Georgia of May 3, 2006, the national team for support of the Bologna process was established. The goal of this team is to set the concrete objectives for the effective implementation of the reforms under the Bologna process in Georgia and to promote the activities determined within the Bologna process. 

In the autumn semester of 2006, several higher education institutions in Georgia introduced performance based indicators / targets, according to the Bologna process.

Among the institutes of higher art education, Tbilisi Vano Sarajishvili State Conservatory and Tbilisi State Academy of Fine Arts have transferred to the three-step system of education. In 2005-2006 the ECTS system was introduced as well. At Tbilisi Vano Sarajishvili State Conservatory, 23 curricula are built on the credit system and at Tbilisi State Academy of Arts – 24 curricula. In 2006 both institutes issued a new form of Transcript to Diploma to graduates. This form was approved under Order N 149-e of the Minister of Education and Sciences of Georgia (05.04.05) On Approval of the Form for Transcript of the Higher Education State Certificate – Diploma.

Shota Rustaveli State University of Theatre and Film has also been transferred to the tree-step system of higher education. The ECTS system has been introduced for the university students of the first and second years, with 114 curricula built on the credit system.

In 2007, the Law on Higher Vocational Education was adopted which creates the conditions for development of the higher educational system in the line of specialties attributed to practical qualifications. The higher vocational education system in Georgia is divided into artisan and artists' education, where the artisan education covers the applied specialties and artists' education – the art specialties.

The following is being developed:

• Art and Culture Education Roadmap and Action Plan
• Study of Out-of-School Arts Education Institutions and Action Plan.

Last update: February, 2022

In the reform process of higher and secondary education, there is a system of arts and music schools which provides continuing education for children with appropriate talent. According to 2005 data, there were 258 such schools in Georgia.

According to the new national curriculum for 2011-2016 a new optional subject – "World Culture" is being taught at the intermediary stage of public schools.

Under the initiative of the National Curriculum and Assessment Centre of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, teachers of world history in all 550 schools have passed training on the methodology of teaching of a new subject and on substantive matters.

The goal of teaching world culture is: to form a positive attitude of students towards cultural diversity and development of successful communication and tolerance in the diversified cultural sphere and so on.

The first strategic area of the Culture Strategy 2025, adopted in 2016, is devoted to raising awareness and education issues: Chapter II: Strategic Goals 1: Awareness Raising and Education

1.2. Objective: Culture and creativity constitute an integral part of formal pre-school, general and of non-formal education. They develop creative skills and enhance interest towards culture among children and youth.

Tasks:

• Develop a comprehensive out-of-school cultural education system, including arts education: plan, develop and monitor application of standards for out-of-school culture/arts education; determine the status of the tutor working in out-of-school arts education institutions, set their certification guidelines, develop the ranking system of remuneration, etc.;
• With a view to establishing a diverse educational environment and building audiences for the cultural sector, facilitate collaboration between tutors and artists, cultural institutions and organizations within the framework of curricular and extra-curricular programmes.
• Ensure youth and child participation in the cultural and creative activities by means of developing youth cultural centres, summer schools, camps, etc. considering Child Care Standards;
• Based on needs analysis, provide conditions for on-site residences for students in out-of-school arts education institutions in order to ensure sustainability of arts education;
• Plan awards and scholarship schemes, grant programmes, etc. in schools (general formal, out-of-school education) for students and tutors to encourage innovation and creativity;
• Support the development of libraries in school and out-of-school educational institutions (e.g. provide vouchers for purchasing books, computers, audio and video technologies etc.).

Within the framework of the Culture Strategy 2025, promotion of children’s integration was introduced in 2016-2017:

• Programmes of the Education Department of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia - 2000 children.

• Non-formal education programmes of the Georgian National Museum - 2000 adults, about 500 persons with disabilities.

• Otia Ioseliani’s Sunday School in Tskaltubo - up to 200 pupils. Since 2014, the National Centre of Cinematography has been implementing the project “At Cinema School” with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Georgia. The Cinema Corner, a new, digital, customer-oriented modern design online platform, which has a main goal of popularizing film education among young people, is also implemented with funding from Creative Europe.

Tbilisi History Museum conducts an educational cycle “Contemporary Art Map” for children.

Last update: February, 2022

In 2007, the Law on Higher Vocational Education was adopted which creates the conditions for development of the higher educational system in line of specialties attributed to practical qualifications. The higher vocational education in Georgia is divided into artisan and artists' education, where the artisan education covers the applied specialties and artists' education – the art specialties.

Under the legislation of Georgia, a vocational educational institution/college is a legal entity that is authorized to conduct vocational education programmes, short-cycle educational programmes, vocational training programmes, vocational retraining programmes and state language training programmes in accordance with the legislation of Georgia.

As of May 1, 2020, there are 19 authorized state public/professional colleges in Georgia, of which only 2 are in the field of art.

• LEPL Gori Sulkhan Tsintsadze Music College
• LEPL Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University College of Media and Television Arts