“In the event of a building being deemed unsafe, the educational process is immediately suspended; in other cases, specialists continue monitoring the buildings. Accordingly, no educational activities are taking place in any Tbilisi kindergarten whose condition is considered unsafe for operation,” the Tbilisi Kindergarten Management Agency told InterpressNews in response to a question about the inspection and condition of public kindergarten buildings in Tbilisi.

Asked how many of the 191 kindergartens operating in Tbilisi have been earmarked for demolition, the agency said that construction of eight kindergartens is currently underway, while there are also projects that are planned to begin or are still at the design stage.

“Inspecting the structural stability of public kindergarten buildings is a standard process and is carried out periodically. A decision on whether to suspend or continue the educational process at an institution is made solely on the basis of an expert assessment. The assessment clearly specifies whether such a decision is necessary, and its implementation is mandatory for a public institution.

“In the event of a building being deemed unsafe, the educational process is immediately suspended. In other cases, specialists continue monitoring the buildings. Accordingly, no educational activities are taking place in any Tbilisi kindergarten whose condition is considered unsafe for operation.

“Currently, construction of eight kindergartens is underway for this reason. There are also projects that are planned to begin or are currently at the design stage. These mechanisms and practices stem from the obligation to ensure children’s safety,” the Tbilisi Kindergarten Management Agency told Interpressnews.