In accordance with the instructions of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli presented an anti-crisis plan regarding all areas of education. During the presentation, the Minister addressed the public about the projects implemented by the Ministry in the battle against coronavirus with regards to general, higher and vocational education, in conjunction with discussing the current challenges and concrete solutions. 

During the presentation, all the initiatives of the Ministry were discussed in detail, as well as analyzing the implemented, ongoing, or planned projects related to online learning.

During the conversation, Minister Mikheil Chkhenkeli paid special attention to the most important distance learning project - "TV School", which the Ministry has been implementing for more than a month in collaboration with First Channel of Georgia, and the involvement of the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Culture.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli: "I distinctively would like to emphasize the project “TV School". This is truly a unique project that was implemented together with the First Channel of Georgia. Within the scope of the project, a brand new channel was created - "First Channel Education", which, of course, will continue to broadcast. As you know, every crisis raises opportunities. It was in such circumstances, that the idea of ​​a "TV School" was born and the resources were mobilized in the shortest possible time. As a result, we received this unique project that has boasted extremely positive response from the public. The project reached beyond its borders and is now spectated by the students’ family members as well.

I would like to extend my gratitude towards the First Channel personnel and its management, who worked 24 hours a day, to implement this project. Special thanks to Vasil Maghlaperidze, who not only acts as the head of the channel but also appears as one of the best teachers on “TV School”.

According to the Minister, the project is being successfully implemented throughout Georgia and is an indispensable tool for the part of the population/students, who do not have access to the Internet and online learning. The project allows any student to be a part of an engaging lesson in any subject provided by the National Curriculum.

Airtime (the timetable) covers all subjects at all levels. TV lessons are conducted by experienced teachers of various subjects. Undoubtedly, the interest of students with special educational needs is also considered in the initial planning of live lessons. Additionally, all transmissions are provided by a gesture translator.

Moreover, from April 13, TV lessons in Mathematics, Natural Science, and Biology, were added for ethnic minorities in Armenian and Azerbaijani languages, in conjunction with adding Armenian and Azerbaijani language lessons. 

Additionally, the project also factors in conducting an entire hour dedicated for the Entrants, where specialists in the field will advise entrants on the national exams.

Teachers from both the public and private sectors are involved in the project. The creative team of the First Channel of Georgia will ensure the process of shooting the lessons.

Due to its importance, the project "TV School” will run in the long-term and will continue even after overcoming the threat of coronavirus. The project utilizes various platforms of the First Channel of Georgia such as: web portal - 1tv.ge  Youtube and its Facebook pages. The popularity of the project is growing on daily basis, and according to the data, more than a million people spectated TV lessons  on 1TV.GE.

Furthermore, within the project framework, the Second channel of Georgia was transformed into an educational platform "First Channel - Education". The channel will primarily translate and showcase the world's best educational programs in the future.

As it is known, the Prime Minister-led Interagency Coordination Council decided to temporarily suspend all learning activities to prevent the further spread of coronavirus. The Council instructed the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia to maximize access to distance learning in order to facilitate the teaching-learning process. The joint project of the Ministry and the First Channel of Georgia – “TV School” serves to accomplish this precise task.