65 university professors from the United States and Europe sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Georgia, Iraq Kobachiga, in which they call on him to reconsider the improvement of education carried out by Georgian Dreams.
The letter stressed that reform This will not only solve any of the existing problems, but will strengthen state control of the higher education sector.
"We agree that the higher education strategy in Georgia has long faced serious problems:
– universities and institutes endure from a shortage of resources (in 2025 Georgia's government spent only 0.3% of GDP on higher education);
– professors and lecturers receive low salaries and are forced to work on 2 or 3 jobs to support families;
– State backing of investigation research and investigation laboratories is virtually non-existent;
– and unemployment among graduates all year contributes to mass economical emigration abroad.
The measures proposed by you under the National Higher Education improvement Concept will not solve these problems. On the contrary, they will strengthen state control over the higher education sector. Management will be passed on to the rectors and administrators who will be subject to the government. The autonomy of universities, together with the control of academic staff over curricula and survey plans, will be importantly reduced.
The budgets of universities will be further reduced, and it will be easier to dismiss professors representing different views as part of the reorganisation.
This "reform" will close the last space in Georgia open to healthy critical reasoning and pluralism. A decently functioning university system, based on critical thinking, self-government, academic freedom, investigation capabilities with adequate backing and global exchange, is crucial for the improvement of Georgia's national economy.
We're hereResearchers from universities around the world. We are besides afraid about another actions taken by your government that led to the imprisonment of professors and students for the peaceful defence of their rights.
The National Concept of Higher Education improvement proposed by you will not only undo Georgia's democratic advancement but will besides limit the prospects of its citizens, the citizens you represent.
Higher education provides you with active citizens and qualified professionals who, together with employees, guarantee the improvement of the country in an increasingly competitive global order. We call on the government to reconsider this educationally harmful proposal and to cooperate with all curious Georgian higher education in order to make a real improvement that will improve the lives of citizens," says the letter.
Source: sovanews.tv
Study Bulletin: BIS
