The Chair of the Education, Science and Youth Affairs Committee, Mariam Lashkhi, participated in the award ceremony for the winners of the “National Vocational Education Award 2025.” She delivered welcoming remarks to the participants of the event.

The Committee Chair spoke about the importance of vocational education and noted that it is the level of education that most rapidly and effectively prepares highly qualified professionals and ensures the swift integration of intellectual resources into the labor market.

“The Parliament of Georgia has actively supported this competition since 2022. Within the framework of the competition, our main focus is on inclusive education. Without an inclusive approach and consideration of each individual’s needs, the education system cannot be complete. This unity and cooperation ultimately foster a high level of social responsibility, the provision of which is one of the state’s primary obligations”, - Mariam Lashkhi stated.

In 2025, within the framework of the National Vocational Education Award competition, winners were identified in four main categories: Vocational Education Teacher of the Year, Vocational Education Student of the Year, Vocational Education Business Partner of the Year, and Vocational Education Program of the Year.

Within the special categories established under the competition, awards were presented by the Parliament of Georgia, the Skills Agency, and the Gudavadze-Patarkatsishvili Foundation.
The Parliament of Georgia’s annual special prize for the promotion of inclusive vocational education was awarded to the “New Wave” College.

This year, Mariam Lashkhi presented the Parliament’s special prize to student Saba Puturidze.

The participants were also addressed by the Executive Director of the Millennium Foundation, Magda Maghradze; Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth, Tamar Makharashvili; the Ambassador of Israel to Georgia, H.E. Valid Abu-Haya; Acting Director General of the Skills Agency, Kakha Khandolishvili; Executive Director of the Gudavadze-Patarkatsishvili Foundation, Zurab Kervalishvili; and Executive Director of the Georgian Business Association, Levan Vepkhvadze.

The event was attended by representatives of international donor organizations and the vocational education sector.

The National Vocational Education Award competition has been held annually since 2017, organized by the Millennium Foundation with the financial support of the Gudavadze-Patarkatsishvili Foundation. It aims to promote and support the development of vocational education.