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Armenians Studying in Georgia: How the Issue is Being Resolved
Epress.am (http://www.epress.am/FNew.aspx?nid=7336)
Oct. 29, 2010
One of the biggest problems of Armenians in Georgia is the question of
higher education. After the reforms in Georgia's education system,
when the system of unified national exams began to be implemented, it
became mandatory to take an exam in the Georgian language. That
basically excluded all applicants who did not know Georgian from the
higher education system.
This was told to the Epress.am Tbilisi correspondent by Marina
Elbakidze, who is a project coordinator at the Caucasus Institute for
Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD).
"In the past few years, the majority of Armenian and Azerbaijani youth
left Georgia; very few have been accepted into Georgian
universities. Javakheti youth who cannot be admitted to university
here, go to Russia or Armenia to study, after which, if they even
return, it's the same, they don't know the country's state [official]
language and they can't find work. Or they don't return at all," said
Elbakidze.
This problem has existed for 5 years, she said, and it has often been
discussed at the state level.
"But this year, major changes were introduced to the education
system. Those who graduated from a non-Georgian school, who know
Armenia, Azerbaijani [or] Abkhazian, can take a general ability test
and meeting the minimum competence level, can study at any faculty at
a zero rate [i.e. free of charge] and study the Georgian language for
one year free of charge, and then proceed to the first course."
Elbakidze also noted that each university is obligated to allocate 5%
of the total number of seats to Armenian and Azerbaijani students, and
1.5% to Ossetians and Abkhazians.
"Another question is Russian is not in this list and graduates from
Russian schools are deprived of such privilege, even though many
Armenians, Azerbaijanis and Georgians who graduate from Russian
schools easily take exams in the Russian language.
"This year, more than 100 applications were received from Javakheti,
of which 80 were admitted at the zero rate. Javakheti residents also
request that a joint Armenian-Georgian university be opened at
Akhalkalaki. In Armenian schools, the hours of Georgian language
education have increased and the hours of Armenian language education
have been reduced, which Javakheti residents don't welcome," she
concluded.
From: A. Papazian
Epress.am (http://www.epress.am/FNew.aspx?nid=7336)
Oct. 29, 2010
One of the biggest problems of Armenians in Georgia is the question of
higher education. After the reforms in Georgia's education system,
when the system of unified national exams began to be implemented, it
became mandatory to take an exam in the Georgian language. That
basically excluded all applicants who did not know Georgian from the
higher education system.
This was told to the Epress.am Tbilisi correspondent by Marina
Elbakidze, who is a project coordinator at the Caucasus Institute for
Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD).
"In the past few years, the majority of Armenian and Azerbaijani youth
left Georgia; very few have been accepted into Georgian
universities. Javakheti youth who cannot be admitted to university
here, go to Russia or Armenia to study, after which, if they even
return, it's the same, they don't know the country's state [official]
language and they can't find work. Or they don't return at all," said
Elbakidze.
This problem has existed for 5 years, she said, and it has often been
discussed at the state level.
"But this year, major changes were introduced to the education
system. Those who graduated from a non-Georgian school, who know
Armenia, Azerbaijani [or] Abkhazian, can take a general ability test
and meeting the minimum competence level, can study at any faculty at
a zero rate [i.e. free of charge] and study the Georgian language for
one year free of charge, and then proceed to the first course."
Elbakidze also noted that each university is obligated to allocate 5%
of the total number of seats to Armenian and Azerbaijani students, and
1.5% to Ossetians and Abkhazians.
"Another question is Russian is not in this list and graduates from
Russian schools are deprived of such privilege, even though many
Armenians, Azerbaijanis and Georgians who graduate from Russian
schools easily take exams in the Russian language.
"This year, more than 100 applications were received from Javakheti,
of which 80 were admitted at the zero rate. Javakheti residents also
request that a joint Armenian-Georgian university be opened at
Akhalkalaki. In Armenian schools, the hours of Georgian language
education have increased and the hours of Armenian language education
have been reduced, which Javakheti residents don't welcome," she
concluded.
From: A. Papazian