Pros
Some teachers are caring and experienced. The faculty works hard overall, they must.
Cons
This school significantly deviates from its professed values, and it is crucial to emphasize that the teaching staff bears no responsibility for these deviations. The heart of the issue lies in leadership that appears to prioritize profit over the well-being of students and educators. In fact, it is not an overstatement to assert that the school poses a substantial risk to the welfare of both students and teachers. Here are several troubling issues and glaring red flags: 1. **Questionable Admissions Policy:** The school appears to prioritize financial considerations over the well-being of its students. There is a concerning pattern of admitting students solely based on their ability to pay tuition, even when the teaching staff lacks proper training or preparation to support students with special needs. 2. **Erosion of IB Principles:** Despite professing to adhere to the principles of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, the school's actions do not align with the core tenets of inquiry-based education. For instance, the school's policy of avoiding discussions about significant world events, such as the Ukraine conflict, to appease certain stakeholders is a clear contradiction to the spirit of inquiry-based learning. 3. **Ineffectual Psychological Support:** The school employs individuals with the title of "psychologists" who appear to prioritize personal appearance over fulfilling their professional roles. This is exacerbated by the perception that their training and expertise are lacking, often relying on rudimentary psychology knowledge. Such shortcomings raise serious concerns about the quality of mental health support provided to students. 4. **Top-Down Decision-Making:** Administrative decisions seem to be made unilaterally by individuals who never set foot in classrooms. This top-down approach impedes effective communication and collaboration with teachers, perpetuating a dysfunctional school environment. 5. **Exploitative Treatment of Foreign Teachers:** Foreign teachers often experience disingenuous welcomes and face situations where their unfamiliarity with Georgian language and laws is exploited. Examples include attempts to withhold fair pay, delays in providing housing allowances, and reluctance to fulfill contractual obligations. 6. **Safety and Bullying Issues:** Most alarmingly, the school places students at risk with its shortcomings, both in terms of their education and, more disturbingly, their safety. A grave bullying problem has been allowed to fester without appropriate intervention. Tragically, a local Georgian student, victimized by emotional bullying, lost his life under humiliating circumstances. The school's inadequate response to this tragic incident, coupled with its failure to address the broader issue of safety, is deeply troubling. It is imperative that these issues be addressed promptly to safeguard the well-being of students and teachers and to uphold the school's professed commitment to education and ethical conduct. Constructive dialogue and significant changes in leadership and policies are urgently needed to rectify these concerns and create a safe, nurturing, and academically sound educational environment.
