The Communications Commission, with the support of the EU, has already trained more than 100 teachers in countering disinformation since 3 August. Given the high participation it is estimated that more than 500 teachers will be trained across Georgia during the three-month project. Teachers of vocational and public schools in Kvemo Kartli, Imereti, Adjara, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti and Tbilisi have already received training. Tbilisi, Rustavi, Kutaisi, Khoni, Chiatura, Sachkhere, Vani, Gurni, Chorvila, Batumi, Kobuleti, Shuakhevi, Keda, Khelvachauri, Khulo, Terjola, Kharagauli, Baghdati, Tkibuli, Mestia, Ushguli, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Martvili, Abasha, Khobi – these are the towns and villages where certified training has already taken place. 

With the help of a creative and interactive module developed by guest experts specifically for this project, teachers are trained on topics such as critical thinking, various methods of identifying false information and methods of validating information. 

The module allows the participants to learn about the negative impact of disinformation and anti-western propaganda, and find out about the mechanisms for tackling the spread of such misinformation. Teachers are taught practical methods of identifying false information through media literacy skills. Furthermore, the seminars help them obtain full information about European values and the EU-Georgia approximation process. 

The Communications Commission and the EU are implementing the project titled “The Challenge of Disinformation: Developing Critical Thinking in Schools is training teachers in Tbilisi and all other regions of Georgia. More than 500 teachers will be trained over a period of three months in Tbilisi and all other regions of Georgia, including the regions with large ethnic minority populations.