Givi Mikanadze: Parliament will consider next week measures setting the first-grade age at 6, introducing in-school tutoring in Grade 11, and completing work on the single-textbook principle by 2028
According to Givi Mikanadze, Georgia’s Minister of Education, Science, and Youth, general and higher education reforms will be considered under an accelerated procedure in parliament next week.
As the minister noted, the implementation of the reforms is entering an active phase.
“As is known to the public, last year we announced large-scale reforms of the general and higher education stages, the concepts of which were approved by government resolutions after public discussions. We are now moving into the active phase of their implementation.
The first stage involves the adoption of the relevant legislative amendments.
I would like to present the key issues submitted to parliament by the government through a legislative initiative, which will be considered under an accelerated procedure next week.
General education level: We have decided that the age of first graders will be set at 6 years. A child will be eligible to enroll in Grade 1 only if they turn 6 by September 15 inclusive. These changes will take effect starting from the 2026–2027 academic year.
Based on the legislative amendments, the stages of general education will be defined as follows: beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year, the primary level will include Grades I–VI, the basic level will include Grades VII–IX, and starting from the 2027–2028 academic year, the secondary level will include Grades X–XI. From that same academic year, school-organized tutoring (repetitorium) will be provided in Grade 11, giving students the opportunity to fully prepare for national examinations,” Mikanadze said.
Givi Mikanadze also spoke about the single-textbook principle, noting that the state is assuming responsibility for creating one standard textbook per subject per grade.
This process will be completed by September 2028.
In addition, starting from the 2026–2027 academic year, school uniforms will become mandatory in public schools at the primary level (Grades I–VI). Schools will also develop rules for the use of electronic communication devices, aimed at ensuring a learning-focused educational environment.
