“The removal of schools from our cities and villages is underway — the former No. 6 School, now No. 21, must be saved,” Lelo – Strong Georgia leader Pikria Chikhradze wrote on social media, commenting on recent developments surrounding Tbilisi Public School No. 21.

According to Chikhradze, the first steps toward education reform were taken at the school.

“The No. 6 School on Petriashvili Street was not an ordinary Soviet school. It was one of the islands of freedom in Georgia at the time!

The first steps toward education reform were taken at this school, and the school, together with its teachers and students, became an important part of the national movement.

This school inspired an entire movement of young people who went on to become teachers.

The school has a long history.

The building itself is a typical Soviet-era structure, but the location is prestigious — Vera, Petriashvili Street, restaurants, new developments...

Who cares about future generations, access to education, the school’s history and its rich traditions? What matters is someone’s insatiable business interest.

Schools are being pushed out of our cities and villages.

The former No. 6 School, now No. 21, must be saved,” Chikhradze wrote.

The statement comes amid a protest by parents outside Tbilisi Public School No. 21, where classes have been suspended as of September 18 due to the building being deemed unsafe. Parents were informed that the educational process would be suspended because of the condition of the building.

One parent told Interpressnews that it is not yet clear how classes will continue. According to the parent, however, the school principal has proposed temporarily switching to online learning.