Browsing by Author "Mikhanashvili, Inga"
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Item The “4 + 1 Program” in Higher Education Institutions as a Strategy for the Integration of Ethnic Minorities(2020) Mikhanashvili, IngaOne of the most important issues in contemporary Georgia is the protection of national minorities’ rights and civic integration promotion. To increase access to higher education and therefore to promote civic integration of ethnic minorities, in 2009, by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, based on amendments made to the Law on Higher Education, educational program in Georgian Language training was launched. The program aimed to let ethnic minorities to be enrolled in higher education institutions based on the results of the Azerbaijanian, Armenian, Ossetian and Abkhazian language tests of General skills and afterward, to study the Georgian language at the level which is necessary to continue studying under the bachelor's program. Based on the results of the general skill tests in Azerbaijanian, Armenian, Abkhazian and Ossetian languages, the rules for enrolling students in higher education institutions were defined as a temporary measure, the validity of which expired at the end of the 2018-2019 academic year. Therefore, we think it is necessary to evaluate the results of the educational program in the Georgian language, to summarize the opinions and recommendations of the parties involved in the implementation of the program. The educational program presented by the Ministry of Education in 2004 aimed to create equal conditions for all entrants when applying to Georgian higher education institutions. Under this reform, unified national exams have been introduced since 2005, but in the first year of the reform, only twenty ethnic minority entrants became students, a much lower rate than in previous years. To eliminate this negative effect of the reform, the Ministry of Education has started implementing a "favorable policy" for ethnic minorities. This study aims to assess students' perceptions and attitudes about the effectiveness of the Georgian language training program (4 + 1 program) initiated for ethnic minorities in 2009 and implemented within the framework of the National Civil Integration Action Plan; Also, to analyze the goals of the introduction of the 4 + 1 program in the education system. In the report, by using the integration theoretical framework and statistical data analysis method, I studied statistical data on the number of students representing ethnic minorities in Georgian universities; analyzed the goals and motives of the Ministry of Education while introducing "4 + 1 program"; also analyzed the official statistics provided by the National Center for Examinations and Assessment and the Center for Education Quality Development. As a result of the study, after the launching of the program, an increase in the number of ethnic minority students in Georgian universities and an improvement in their knowledge of the Georgian language was revealed.Item Issue of Minorities after the 2016 Parliamentary Elections Based (on the Analysis of the Ombudsman’s Reports)(Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi state university, Faculty of social and political sciences, 2019-06) Mikhanashvili, Inga; მიხანაშვილი, ინგაOne of the important issues for the Georgian state and society is protecting the rights of national minorities and promoting civil integration. In 2005, Georgia ratified the European Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities, which contains a number of important provisions, namely: the recognition of the equality of national minorities before the law and the prohibition of any discrimination; the state should create for national minorities the conditions for the preservation and development of their culture and the protection of the fundamental elements of their identity - religion, language, traditions and cultural heritage; national minorities should be protected from any action aimed at assimilating against their will. The Government of Georgia has also adopted the National Concept and Action Plan for Tolerance and Civil Integration in 2009, to promote civil integration. Various ministries and agencies are carrying out a lot of programs and activities in the six main directions – the rule of law, education and state language, media and availability of information, political integration and civic engagement, social and regional integration, culture and identity preservation. Based on the analysis of the Ombudsman’s reports, I have focused on the following issues of national minorities: preschool, general and higher education of national minorities; availability of study of the state language; full awareness of the population of the regions inhabited by national minorities; promoting the study of the native languages of small national minorities; the problems with the Roma community and the development of the culture of national minorities and preservation of their identity. In order to overcome this problem, it’s necessary to strengthen regional TV stations and prepare Armenian, Azerbaijanian and Ossetic programs, promoting the study of the native language of minor national minorities, problems with gypsy communities and other issues. At the same time in the presentation, using the comparative method, I will also analyze problems of the national minorities (according to the Ombudsmen reports) during 2012-2016 parliamentary elections and compare them. I’ll pay attention to the amendments made by the public defender’s recommendations. This topic is discussed in the context of the integration theory.