The recognition of general education obtained abroad will no longer fall under the competence of the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement. This function will be completely transferred to general educational institutions.

The Ministry of Education and Science has submitted to Parliament draft amendments to the Law on General Education, according to which the recognition of general education received during studies abroad will become the obligation of schools, in accordance with the procedure defined by the Minister’s order.

In accordance with these amendments, in addition to a document certifying complete general education, it will also be possible to equate a document certifying education received within the framework of a general education program recognized abroad with a document certifying basic education.

Furthermore, a new article will be added to the Law on General Education, according to which legal entities implementing general education programs recognized abroad in Georgia will be subject to the authorization process. Authorization must be obtained for the level of general education at which the recognized foreign general education program is being implemented.

In addition, according to the draft law, students of a general education program recognized abroad will have the right to use mobility in accordance with the rules established by the legislation.

Under the current law, the recognition of education obtained abroad is carried out by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, whose powers include, among other things, the recognition of general education obtained abroad. This, in turn, serves as a prerequisite for students arriving from abroad to continue their education in Georgian educational institutions. An application submitted to the Center for the recognition of general education obtained during studies abroad must be accompanied by the conclusion of the receiving school regarding the compliance of the general education received during studies abroad. For the purpose of preparing this conclusion, the general educational institution assesses the compliance of the subjects indicated in the documentation submitted by the interested person with the compulsory subjects provided for by the National Curriculum. The conclusion specifies the subjects completed by the person during studies abroad that correspond to the compulsory subjects under the National Curriculum, as well as the grades obtained after converting the grades received in those subjects according to the grading system of the National Curriculum. It is precisely on the basis of this conclusion that the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement makes a decision on the recognition or refusal to recognize the general education obtained during studies abroad.

As the Ministry of Education and Science explains, according to international practice, the authority to recognize general education obtained during studies abroad is granted to schools, and the involvement of the Center in this process does not correspond to international practice.

“The practice of the following countries was examined: the Netherlands, Germany, the USA, Spain, France, Slovakia, Iceland, Croatia, Romania, Israel, Australia, Turkey, Monaco, Serbia, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In these states, the recognition of general education obtained during studies is carried out by general educational institutions without the involvement of the relevant national agency for educational quality enhancement.

In addition, in accordance with the Constitution of Georgia, primary and basic education are compulsory. Accordingly, the right to general education is a right guaranteed by the Constitution, and regardless of the decision made by the Center, the student is entitled, in accordance with the Constitution of Georgia, to continue studies in the class indicated in the recognition/refusal document. In the event that the recognition/refusal document does not specify in which class the person has received education, they shall be enrolled in the class corresponding to their age or, with their consent, in a lower class.

Accordingly, the Center has a somewhat formal role, since no matter what decision it makes — positive or negative — the student is entitled to continue receiving education in the relevant class,” — it is stated in the explanatory note attached to the draft law.