Teachers, Teacher Education, and Professional Development
Preservice teacher preparation programs are available through several higher education institutions. According to the Law of Georgia on General Education, a bachelor’s degree in education sciences is required for teaching at the primary level. The regulations are much more complicated at the higher level for basic (Grades 7 to 9) and secondary (Grades 10 to 12) education. At these levels, an individual must hold at least a master’s degree in the field of education.
In 2010, the National Examinations Center, together with the National Center for Teacher Professional Development, introduced Teacher Certification Examinations. It was anticipated that the process of universal certification would finish by 2014, when certification would be required for all teachers. However, due to problems with the examinations pass rate and lack of support for teachers wishing to continue their career, the deadline was postponed. Fundamental reforms were introduced to the process of teacher certification—teachers now are required to pass examinations in subject knowledge only (not professional skills) and to undergo classroom observation. The introduction of classroom observation requirements offsets the shortcoming of previous assessment approaches, which failed to account for teacher practice. These new measures along with new professional development schemes were finalized and put into practice recently.
Requirements for Ongoing Professional Development
In addition to preservice education and training, teachers may participate in in-service professional development and advancement opportunities. The Teacher Professional Development Center provides teachers with relevant training, opportunities, and resources for professional development and improvement. According to a scheme effective through the end of 2015, teachers were invited to take examinations in computer skills and English, after obtaining certification. Teachers who passed these examinations were entitled to additional monetary benefits above their regular salary. At the end of 2015, new schemes for teacher professional development and career advancement were adopted that will introduce changes to teacher certification examination content and requirements.12