Professors and university administrations must decide whether they will comply with the demands imposed by the Ministry - if they do not, this so-called reform cannot be implemented by force, said Simon Janashia, one of the leaders of “Freedom Square” and an education policy expert, in an interview with InterpressNews while speaking about the education reform.

According to him, it is “violence against the people when a university is abolished” without consulting the university’s students, professors, or administration.

Janashia stated that he is convinced the authorities will be forced to retreat with regard to the education reform.

“This so-called education reform serves three purposes: to establish political control over universities, to sell off university buildings so that someone can profit from them, and to send as many people as possible to Bidzina Ivanishvili’s university by restricting the number of places, professors, and student admissions at other universities. The meetings currently taking place [at the Ministry of Education] show that all of this has been poorly planned, because no negotiations were held with anyone. It is violence against the people when a university is abolished without asking its students, professors, or administration. I am certain they will be forced to back down. Even under normal circumstances, it would be impossible to push through these changes - let alone in this manner,” Janashia said, adding:

“First and foremost, professors and the administration must decide whether they will comply with the requirements set by the Ministry. If they do not comply, this reform cannot be implemented by force,” Janashia emphasized.