About the program

Education reform and voucher system has granted public schools independence in decision-making and financial management. This creates competitive environment where schools need to improve their services to attract more students. At the same time, public schools have no experience in public finance management; they never had their own budget or accountant. Thus, there is a risk that lack of proper skills and knowledge will result in uncontrolled spending of resources and corrupt practices.

Further, schools are independent in decision-making, but decision-making bodies, Boards of Trustees (BoT), are newly created structures. With no history of school self-governance in Georgia, members of BoTs do not fully understand their roles and functions in school development. They do not have a common vision; they do not know how to plan strategically and manage in a democratic way. Civitas Georgica has visited 12 secondary schools in Tbilisi and found out that only 2 of them have held at least one meeting of the BoTs. This demonstrates that BoTs do not see themselves as real decision-makers in the school. From this point of view the situation in the regions is even worse than in Tbilisi.

Also, school principals (s)elected according are new. Many of them use old management practices, does not know how to involve the board in decision making, what its role is. On the other hand, it is essential that the principals and the board work as one team to guarantee the transparent management of public institution. Otherwise efforts of the initiators of the reform might be in vain.

Besides, schools have responsibilities in front of community they serve. As the result of local government reform implemented by Georgian government in 2006, which abolished self-governance on village level, secondary schools are the only public institutions operating at community level. Thus, in the new environment, public schools need to take on new function – they have to serve as catalysers of community development. The school management style, transparent and accountable public body at locals including various stakeholders – teachers, students and parents in decision making would serve as brilliant example of public participation.

The goal of the program is to support the establishment of democratic management and contributing to strengthening capacities of Board of Trustees in secondary schools in Georgia.

The organization has recieved the financial assistance from MATRA small grants rpoject and is piloting the program in Gardabani district.