‘You can’t dismantle system overnight’, expert slams education reform as ‘reckless, ‘politicised'

Georgia’s planned higher-education reform - including regionalisation, major changes to the state grant system, and a shift to 11-year school education - has triggered intense public debate. Education researcher Revaz Apkhazava speaks with Front News about why he believes the initiatives may be ineffective and harmful, posing serious risks to university autonomy, educational quality, and Georgia’s integration into the European Higher Education Area.

Front News: The government says regionalising higher education - strengthening universities in Kutaisi, Rustavi and other regions - will reduce student migration and overconcentration in Tbilisi. How effective do you think this approach could be? What challenges do you foresee?

Apkhazava: These decisions are completely ill-considered. We saw clearly that there wasn’t a single genuine expert involved in the Education Commission. They have no understanding whatsoever of how an education system functions. The decision was made without considering universities’ academic freedom - and, most importantly, without considering students’ interests.

On one hand, this undermines universities as unified academic institutions. On the other hand, it makes access to education far more difficult for young people. It is bewildering that the government can take such a drastic step so casually. Even in the Soviet Union they wouldn’t do this - education reforms were decided by professionals, and even they hesitated to make such reckless changes.

Introducing a regional principle is entirely absurd. It would destroy key scientific centres and academic fields. There would be no competition, no academic freedom, and students would find access to education much harder.

Students would be forced to relocate to cities with no proper infrastructure - no affordable housing, poor transportation. Finding a rental flat is already extremely difficult in Tbilisi; imagine peripheral towns, where the situation is ten times worse. It’s clear what the goal is: to minimise the number of universities in Georgia and leave only those fully subordinated to the authorities. There is absolutely no benefit here - apart from ensuring the government tightens its control over universities.

Front News: Authorities argue that this will improve quality, eliminate duplication of programmes, and ensure more efficient use of academic resources - “one city, one faculty.” Why do you see this as a threat?

Apkhazava: It is utterly absurd. Who should decide which faculties my university develops? Why should someone interfere in a university’s internal academic strategy?

For example, several universities in Georgia offer psychology programmes. On what principle would you close one and keep another? They talk about “tradition,” but tradition alone does not determine academic strength. Yes, Tbilisi State University has a long history - but some disciplines are stronger elsewhere. This competition is what drives quality upward. Remove it, and you destroy the entire academic ecosystem.

How do they imagine this? That professors uproot their lives and move to Zugdidi because only one university will be allowed to teach a particular subject in Tbilisi? Most students here work to support themselves - what opportunities will they have in small towns, which young people are already leaving due to lack of prospects?

Front News: The reform also includes returning to 11-year school education and shifting universities to a 3+1 model (three-year bachelor’s plus one-year master’s). How compatible is this with the Bologna system and European standards?

Apkhazava: They call this a “new concept,” but it is absurd. Even with 12 grades, our school system struggles to achieve its goals. Compressing it into 11 years will overload curricula, reduce the number of teachers, and push us further away from the European system - making it harder for our students to continue education abroad.

As for 3+1 — yes, such models exist in the West, but in systems where students arrive extremely well-prepared. Here we have high-school graduates who lack basic maths skills like fractions and percentages, and often struggle even with Georgian language proficiency. If they now cut time from key subjects needed for professional development, students will be left without essential foundations.

Front News: The government plans to replace the grant system with funding based on labour-market needs. Could this improve efficiency?

Apkhazava: The grant policy definitely needed revision - the amount hasn’t changed for 15 years. But what they are proposing is utter madness. Instead of modernising funding, they are stripping universities of their income. They are reducing the number of state-funded students simply because they don’t have money - saving at the expense of students and our country’s future.

Front News: The Prime Minister announced plans to raise salaries of full-time full professors to 10,000 GEL. Will this improve academic quality?

Apkhazava: If they wanted to raise salaries, what stopped them? They promise many things and deliver nothing. They’ll raise salaries only for a handful of loyal professors - maybe five in total. This isn’t how it works. It’s not up to the Prime Minister to set academic salaries - that’s a Soviet-style approach. Some universities may value a specialist so highly that they would willingly pay even 30,000 GEL - depending on their contribution. Discussing only professor salaries, without any vision of a sustainable funding model, reveals total incompetence.

Front News: Experts warn that these changes could isolate Georgia from European education standards and restrict students’ mobility. Do you agree?

Apkhazava: These barriers are already emerging. Our quality assurance credentials are no longer trusted internationally. For example, we have lost accreditation recognition from European agencies. If this so-called reform continues, we will be completely detached from the civilised world - becoming a new, isolated Soviet-style formation.

Front News: Critics also argue the reform seeks to impose political control over universities and marginalise critical voices. Do you share this concern?

Apkhazava: Absolutely. The government clearly wants total control over every university. We already see how rectors are appointed and dismissed - so-called “elected” officials are forced to resign overnight. That’s not autonomy - it’s coercion.

They want to crush any university they can’t control. We saw a lawsuit brought against the University of Georgia instigated by the rector of the Technical University. But it’s not so easy - you can’t simply walk in and start dismantling the education system with a single stroke. No one will surrender to these decisions.

By Elza Paposhvili