Parents made a statement at the Government Administration regarding the amendments introduced to the "Law on General Education" concerning the rules for enrollment in the first grade.

According to them, the changes — which set the prerequisite for a child's enrollment in the first grade at 6 years of age — violate the child's right to education, because their children remain at an already completed stage of development, which will lead to a loss of learning motivation and interest in studying.

As they stated, in connection with this issue, they demand a meeting with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and call on him to allow a transitional period.

The amendments introduced to the "Law of Georgia on General Education," according to which only children born by September 15 inclusive will be able to enter school, have prompted us to repeatedly appeal to the Ministry of Education with a request for a meeting in order to record the problems that the adoption of the law in its current form would cause for children born after September 15, 2020. Unfortunately, we have not received any response.

Mr. Prime Minister, this is the voice of parents defending the rights of their children. We have not received a single real argument from the Ministry of Education that would substantiate their decision.

They claim they are protecting our children's interests, but closing the school door to children who have been preparing for this throughout the year is not protecting their interests. Refusing children an individual assessment of their school readiness is not protecting their rights and contradicts the Code on the Rights of the Child, according to which, in making any decision concerning a child, priority must be given to the child's best interests, which are determined individually for the child.

Furthermore, the child's right to education is violated, the purpose of which should be the full development of the child's personality, talents, critical thinking, and abilities. Today, our children remain at an already completed stage of development. This will lead to a loss of learning motivation and interest in studying. Transitioning to groups with younger children, while the majority of their current peers go to school, will cause significant psychological harm to the children and put at risk such fundamental rights as the right to education and the free development of personality.

Yes, our children are being deprived of the right to development. The majority of these children have already completed preschool or private school readiness programs, attended Sunday schools. And we are being offered that our children now go through the same programs in the so-called preschool classes of public schools. However, the existence of these programs does not correspond to reality. Parents ourselves contacted the relevant schools where such programs are supposed to operate; some told us they do not have authorization, they did not even know when and how many children they could accept, and moreover, the administration of some schools did not even know that such a service existed at their institution.

The Ministry of Education of Georgia cites a study conducted in 2011 as the basis for the change, which does not mention that a child who lacks 2–3 days or several weeks before turning 6 should not be admitted to the first grade. Moreover, despite this study, in recent years the state's policy has developed in the opposite direction, and the age limit for school admission has been increasing annually, which is why we, the parents, had a well-founded expectation that our children would go to school in September 2026.

Mr. Prime Minister, the amendments to the law came into force extremely late, when parents and children already had formed expectations and had begun preparations for the school stage. A similar practice existed in 2014 as well; however, at that time the state allowed a transitional period, thereby avoiding damage to the rights and interests of children. Today, we also expect exactly such a responsible and humane approach.

These children already have sufficient emotional-psychological maturity, the corresponding ability to concentrate attention, and the self-discipline necessary for the learning process — we can prove this with conclusions from neuropsychologists, and this assessment does not require significant resources.

Until February 4 of this year, our children had the right to enter school. They have readiness, a fair expectation, and should have — like their peers born in the same year — the right to enter school this year!

We once again request a meeting so that we can better provide you with our arguments, and we ask you to allow a transitional period so that our children can go to school in September 2026, — stated Mariam Bokhua.