The school dropout rate remains high in 2025 as well, and a significant part of it is still related to families with children migrating abroad. Last year, the student status was suspended for 7,248 children and terminated for 1,366 children. This is stated in the Public Defender’s 2025 report.

The document notes that the highest numbers, similar to the previous year, are again recorded in Tbilisi (3,434), Kvemo Kartli (1,371), and Adjara (1,050) regions.

“In 2025, 2,086 public schools and 206 authorized private schools were operating across the country, of which 9 provided boarding services. In the 2025–2026 academic year, the total number of students enrolled in general education institutions reached 643,801. Regarding the infrastructure condition of schools, it should be noted that in 2025 the Ministry of Education accepted and commissioned 55 rehabilitated public schools. Additionally, taking into account last year’s legislative changes, 75 schools were transferred to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Construction of Georgia for construction and rehabilitation purposes. Furthermore, within the framework of the school construction program, 8 state procurements were announced for the preparation of relevant documentation services.

It is noteworthy that in 297 public schools, the learning process is conducted in two or more shifts, including in 22 schools — in three shifts. This is mostly due to the large number of students. Of these 22 schools, in 16 cases the reason for three-shift teaching is the number of students, while in 6 schools it is due to rehabilitation/construction works and the organization of studies in alternative spaces. It is concerning that the number of shifts, especially the three-shift regime, negatively affects children’s opportunities to participate in extracurricular and non-formal activities and their overall development.

Problematic trends continue to be observed regarding the continuity of general education. Specifically, despite a significant reduction in numbers compared to previous years, in 2025 the student status was suspended for 7,248 pupils and terminated for 1,366 pupils. According to official statistics, the suspension and termination of status in the majority of cases is still based on “migration abroad with the family”, “application by the parent/legal representative/student”, absence from school for 45 school days, and “continuation of studies in a vocational college”. At the same time, the highest quantitative indicators, similar to last year, are again recorded in Tbilisi (3,434), Kvemo Kartli (1,371), and Adjara (1,050) regions.

The Public Defender of Georgia has been pointing out for many years the need to improve the unified statistics on the suspension/termination of student status. Despite the work carried out by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, the process has not yet been completed. Accordingly, the current form of statistics and the grounds for school dropout still need to be clarified.

It is welcome that the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, in coordination with the Legal Entity of Public Law — the Mandature Service, has prepared a working version of the “Rule for Managing Crisis Situations in General Education Institutions”. It defines both conflict management and resolution procedures, and establishes exceptional rules for recording student attendance in cases where a student does not attend classes due to a possible rights violation by a teacher and is taught by another pedagogue.

Although, according to the provided information, the Ministry of Education continues to work on arranging food facilities in school spaces within the framework of infrastructure programs, the “School Feeding Program” approved as part of the 2023 education reform — which the Public Defender positively assessed — has not yet been implemented. Taking into account child poverty and difficult socio-economic conditions, the intensive implementation of relevant measures to introduce free school meals is of utmost importance for ensuring children’s well-being,” the report states.

In addition, the document also discusses the situation in the occupied regions.

“Similar to 2024, the most significant challenge remains the accessibility of education in the native language in the occupied regions, which is why the number of students decreases every year in both regions. In all schools of the occupied Gali and Akhalgori districts, teaching in Georgian has been completely banned in elementary grades, and the native language has been turned into a subject of foreign language and literature.

According to the data for the 2025–2026 academic year, 30 full general education schools, 9 pre-school institutions, and 5 art schools are operating in the occupied Gali district. As of January 2025, 3,169 students are enrolled in the schools from preparatory to 11th grade. Their number was 3,348 according to the 2024–2025 academic year data. 963 teachers are employed in all 30 schools. Up to 382 children are enrolled in kindergartens. In the 2024–2025 period, this number exceeded 400.

During the reporting year, the situation in occupied Gali has further worsened in terms of access to education in the native language.

As for occupied Akhalgori, the situation regarding access to education in the native language remains difficult, similar to last year. According to 2025 data, only 5 schools are currently operating in occupied Akhalgori. Of these, in 4 schools, Georgian is taught as a subject only in the 11th grade. According to the data for the 2025–2026 academic year, a total of 38 students are enrolled in Akhalgori schools. Their number was 50 in 2024. 80 pedagogues are employed in the schools,” the report states.