The Education and Science Minister, Giorgi Amilakhvari reported to the Parliament within the Ministerial Hour and overviewed the upheld and ongoing projects in preschool, general, vocational and higher education directions, achieved progress and further plans.

He attached particular attention to the increased financing of the education and science system stating that the assignments in 2023 constituted 2 bl. 77 ml. 780 k. GEL, while in 2024, they will achieve unprecedented point – 2 bl. 508 ml GEL.

The Minister touched upon the project initiated by the Prime Minister, valued at 1 bl. GEL, envisaging the construction and rehabilitation of schools. According to him, in 2022-2023, 71 public schools were fully restored, and 200 – underwent partial rehabilitation.

As he noted, the Ministry is developing a national general education document aiming at the formation of national values and state awareness in schools. He emphasized the initiatives supporting the pedagogues stating that for the first time in the nearest history of Georgia, October 27 is declared as a National Pedagogues’ Day, and a new remuneration formula, envisaging the increased salaries will become effective as of July 1, 2024.

“We have 50 000 pedagogues with the status and 75% of them will receive salaries increased by at least 500 GEL”.

In 2023, the gradual authorization process of public schools started and 214 schools successfully received authorization, and the school supervisor officers were dispatched to 27 more schools, ensuring the safety and security of children in 719 schools altogether.

The reporter overviewed a new vision of vocational education and an update of the professions and qualifications, within which, the integrated vocational programs will be offered to children.

In this context, the Minister mentioned the nutrition in schools: “Schools with operating canteens will be exposed to total improvement of the hygienic, food safety and health issues through certain monitoring mechanisms”.

The number of scholars and state scholarships has doubled as of the autumn semester of the 2023-2024 academic year.

Speaking about the students, the Minister dwelt on the write-off of the liabilities for the students with terminated status.

“For the first time, the Government has taken a social and human step for the students, when the tuition liability of 97% of up to 30 000 students with terminated status in private or public universities were annulled allowing them to resume the academic process in September 2023”.

He overviewed the initiatives facilitating the science sphere and noted that the budget of the scientists constitutes 72 ml GEL in 2023.

According to the forecast index of 2024, the scheduled increase of their budget constitutes 5.3 ml GEL, which will cover: scientific grants, scientific research and other programs, as well as the facilitation of the Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences and promotion of science.