Kakha Lomaia, the Minister of Education presented Professor Giorgi Oniani, as the new rector of Akaki Tsereteli State University of Kutaisi. At the University Oniani is described as young and talented person. It is interesting to note that at one time Oniani opposed the education reform being carried out in Georgia. Moreover, Oniani asked students to mobilize and take part in organized protest to this end. It is clear that the students know him well, and this fact contributes to the rabble-rousing reputation and “scandalous” character.

There we two candidates on the post of the rector – Omar Lanchava and Giorgi Oniani. Omar Lanchava held the post of the deputy rector at the University for years. During his tenure, bribe rates exceeded the inflation rate. It was clear that Lanchava was caught up in these operations, as Kutaisi is but a big village in terms of confirming rumors of financial impropriety.

As for Giorgi Oniani, nobody is claiming yet that he is corrupted, but mention is made of his position on education reform. Namely, on September 15, 2004, when it became obvious, that the level of academic discourse was on the increase during a scientific council session of the University. A bill about higher education reform in Georgia was to have been discussed, and in the report many sins were listed: that the majority of the council members had poor ratings in their evaluations. For instance, the Dean of Law Department Goletiani and Docent Kutchukhidze quickly denounced the project as being anti-national. And at the same time, the new rector was more candid in his remarks, and responded, “We are just expressing our sorrow, nothing more; the group created at the Ministry of Education has taken a different view on this issue. Now we should think about how to save ourselves. The first step we can make is to participate in demonstrations. This project is written in an autocratic style “top down” and that lacks in the era of democratic reform.

We should make concrete statements to avoid danger, he said” All and all it was clear, that there are some contradiction here as to what actually is education reform and just because it comes from above does not mean that it is appropriate to the circumstances, and being able to perceive social, political, and economic contradictions, and take action against the oppressive elements of that reality.

Many in the civil sector support participatory democracy and reject authoritarian methods of educational reform, and who think education should be about growth producing experiences with an objective in mind. The ultimate goal for him was growth and developmental experiences with educational outcomes. However, the ultimate of education in his world was that where the “goal is human growth and development but not necessarily final completion

Consequently, non-governmental organizations such as Sachino are investigating the violations that took place or are taking place in Kutaisi University. Zurab Khurtsidze, the head of this organization believes that Oniani’s aunt, the general economist of the university was involved in corrupted deals.

“As a mathematic Giorgi Oniani is an excellent professor but at the same time there are minus to offset his pluses. It is true that he was against educational reform in the thinking that this could destroy the country, not necessarily to the concept but to the operational model of how it was being carried out. He believed that this reform could have demolished the country. Oniani’s father is the chair of department and many students consider the father as a corrupted person and part of the old system. The aunt of newly appointed rector is the economist for the university and she has been caught up in the culture of corruption that is endemic to the university. It is obvious Oniani that he is true to his cultural obligations and will not to ignore the family interests, and to think that he will actively take on the forces of corruption in the educational sector looks rather doubtful,” – stated Zurab Khurtsidze.

In Kutaisi, there is a dilemma, not one can think of a person that is not tainted by corruption and at the same time has the standing and reputation to hold such a position of academic standing and integrity. Moreover, the University was running a degree mill and only when the student body was reduced was the institute of higher education gained accreditation after 2000 students were were cut from the rolls. There is doubt that Akaki Tsereteli University in Kutaisi will be able to raise its standards and maintain program accreditation. “The university was unable to pass the first stage of accreditation, as the number of students was sharply increased beyond capacity. In reality, the university can only provide a quality education for between 3000-4000 students, but in reality there are over 7000 students in attendance. It is for these reason 2000 students were tossed from the university. Many of the expelled students were the same ones who had not completely paid their tuition, but in case if these students are able to cover their debts, the university is obligated to reinstate them. In this case, it appears that the fate of the university is with the Ministry of Education.

As for Giorgi Oniani, the new rector of the university, he stated that was not against reform but just aspects of it and how it is being implemented. Categorically. “I have never been against reform but there was a time when I reviewed the bill that I expressed my own opinion about certain articles, which were later considered by lawmakers. Namely my remarks were about reducing of rights of faculty members who were over the age of 65. But as for the basics tenets of the reform, I completely agree and I was always mentioning that,” he said”

Giorgi Oniani denied that his was in any way the ringleader in getting the students to take part in organized demonstrations. “I have never asked the students to participate in demonstrations, and it was just the opposite to this. I even told them that this was not the way to communicate with the Ministry of Education. And besides, statements from the aforementioned report said completing something different,” he said.

As for the rumors about his relatives being corrupted and bribe takers, they were named in positions that were created that were in fact not real “artificially created” ones, by Oniani. Giorgi said, to claim, “my father’s participation in corrupted deals in completely absurd. As for the aunt she is not my family member. I have no documentation about he involvement in corruption, but according to the law, close relatives cannot be in positions of primary subordination, as a conflict of interests, and I will make decision about that.”

As for the problem of maintaining accreditation, Oniani mentioned “that in case if all expelled students are able to cover their outstanding debts, then they would be reinstated and university will start searching for additional space, thus to avoid problems with academic accreditation,” he concluded.