The so-called shadow education system of private supplementary tutoring
has become a global phenomenon but has different features in different
settings. This book explores the ways in which teacher-tutors' beliefs,
social norms, ideals about professionalism, and community values shape
their economic decisions in the informal shadow education marketplace.
Through theoretical lenses of economic sociology and anthropology, this
study uncovers strong social and moral embeddedness of the shadow
education market in social relationships, cultural norms and moralities
in post-Soviet Georgia. The book questions some of the basic assumptions
that the predominant neoliberal discourse promotes worldwide.
The book is based on Kobakhidze's PhD dissertation, which won the
Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Gail P. Kelly
Outstanding Dissertation Award.
"[A] theoretically innovative and substantively enlightening account
of shadow schooling in Georgia... A landmark achievement."
Roger Dale, University of Bristol
"... an important and timely topic ... addressed with exceptional
thoroughness. It constitutes a solid piece of academic work and clearly
makes a significant contribution to the field of shadow education."Heidi
Biseth, University College of Southeast Norway, Chair of Gail P. Kelly
Award Committee in 2017
"...through robust critical analysis, Kobakhidze invites a humanistic
re-visioning of economy and society."
Ora Kwo, The University of Hong Kong
