In Georgia, oppositionists accuse authorities of teachers' political discrimination

Zurab Nogaideli, ex-prime minister of Georgia, now the leader of the oppositional political party "For Fair Georgia", accused today at a press conference the country leaders of mass "politically-motivated" lay-offs of teachers.

"Under the order of Dimitri Shashkin, Minister of Education, after municipal elections they started mass dismissal of teachers," Mr Nogaideli said and added that those teachers who had voted for the opposition at the municipal elections are sacked.

On June 23, Levan Vepkhvadze, vice-speaker of the parliament of Georgia from the faction of Christian Democrats, and MP Dzhondi Bagaturiya, leader of the opposition party "Kartuli Dasi", also demanded explanations from the Minister of Education in the context of disseminated data about mass lay-offs of school teachers, the "GHN" reports.

According to Mr Vepkhvadze, a great mess was raised on optimization of class lessons. "We are informed that school directors have received an order to dismiss the teachers, who have no full load at work; and directors have already warned such teachers about their forthcoming dismissals," he said.

Georgi Gabashvili, chairman of the committee for sciences and education of the parliament, has categorically rejected the opposition's accusations, giving the statement of the Minister of Education as an argument. "The Minister has clearly explained that no dismissals of teachers are planned. The opposition disseminates incorrect information. School directors will decide by themselves whether they need teachers working half-time," the IA "News-Georgia" quotes Mr Gabashvili as saying".