San Diego State University ECE Project Hosts the Second Annual ECE Conference

Experts from San Diego State University (SDSU) are committed to strengthening the early childhood education sector across the country through the Innovation, Inclusion, and Quality – Georgia (I2Q) Project, which is supported by the World Bank.

The second annual conference was held on February 4, 2025, discussing the results achieved and plans related to early and preschool education.

Opening remarks were delivered by the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia, representatives from the World Bank, and the executive director of the I2Q Project.

Nancy Frey, a professor at San Diego State University and an international expert, provided detailed information on the progress of the project.

International experts shared updates with stakeholders regarding cooperative efforts in several areas, including: – Training and retraining of administrative personnel – Continuous professional development for educators – Development of a remuneration system for education staff – Implementation of a quality assurance framework – School readiness programs – Data reporting systems – Development of professional training modules in a bilingual environment.

The conference also featured panel discussions that included experts, kindergarten managers, trainers, representatives from kindergarten agencies in pilot municipalities, and officials from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia.

At the conclusion of the event, Nancy Frey, the professor at San Diego State University and the leader of the expert team, presented certificates to the specialists who had provided training and retraining to personnel in the pilot municipalities over the past six months.

The next steps involve preparing draft legal frameworks to establish a reporting system for important data on early childhood and preschool education. Additionally, a salary policy for educational personnel will be implemented, along with a framework for their ongoing professional development. Efforts to support the establishment of a quality assurance system will also continue. This work will be conducted in collaboration with stakeholders and following their consultations.

Cooperation with the San Diego State University Research Foundation began in September 2022 and is scheduled to conclude in February 2026.  The supervisory group consisting of representatives of various structural units of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia ensures the effective implementation and coordinated work of the activities stipulated in the contract.