SDSURF Visited Dedoplistskaro Municipality

Under the I2Q Project and with the support of the World Bank, the San Diego State University Research Foundation is working to improve early childhood education in Georgia. SDSURF collaborates with International Education Center. SDSURF is achieving the following tasks: 1. Development of a quality assurance framework; ECE Data Reporting – developing mechanisms for collecting and analyzing data related to ECE education and integrating it with the education management information system; Salary Scale – developing an updated salary policy for ECE education, and Teacher Training and School Readiness Program (SRP) – teachers and promoting professional development and updating the existing school readiness program.

On May 29, 2023, within the scope of their other working visit in Georgia, SDSURF experts visited Dedoplistskaro Municipality. The ongoing ECE reform will be piloted in six municipalities of Georgia, and Dedoplistskaro is one of them. The experts conducted meetings with the Mayor, Mr. Nikoloz Janiashvili, the head of the Education, Culture, Heritage Preservation, Sports and Youth Department, Ms. Tamar Tamazashvili, and the Head of Kindergarten Management Agency, Ms. Irma Janashvili. Experts also held a meeting with Municipality Kindergarten caregivers.

The visit aimed to learn the local context, existing challenges, and requirements in local kindergartens. Experts were interested in kindergartens’ strengths and weaknesses. Also, in the involvement of parents and the community in early childhood issues.

Caregivers mentioned the necessity of activities for their professional development and practice-based pieces of training among them. They also noted requirements to adapt infrastructure for disabled persons and the lack of inclusion pedagogues/psychologists in the Municipality.

Within the scope of the visit, SDSURF experts also visited Dedoplistsakro #2 Kindergarten, got acquainted with the educational process and the infrastructure, and spoke to the personnel.