Experts reveal plan to improve preschool education in Georgia

Georgia is taking steps to improve the quality of education for preschoolers, giving them the best start in life.

Early childhood education experts gathered at Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel in Tbilisi today to learn about the new bill, which outlined the specifics of preschool curriculum for youngsters who attend state or private learning centres before they start primary school.

After two years of hard work we created a product which offers the best service to our future generation and provides a good education before entering school. This is an unprecedented law in the field of education,” said Eka Beselia, chairperson of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee of the Parliament of Georgia.

The Committee developed the document with support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The sides jointly presented the new bill today to an audience of industry experts, including representatives from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Georgia’s Ministry of Education.

UNICEF welcomes Georgian Parliament’s initiative about designing a draft law on improving the quality of education for preschoolers. The law would create a legislative base and state standards for all children to get a preschool education,” said head of the UNICEF office in Georgia Sasha Grauman.

The proposed law includes a two-level teaching system:

1. Early education and care for children from birth through to two years of age;
2. Preschool education for children aged two to six.

The document strictly prohibits all violence against children, including physical punishment and degrading treatment from teachers.

The draft law also offers the chance for parents to get involved in their child’s learning by creating and being a part of advisory councils.

The document also regulates the following issues: 

• Creating classroom groups by age;
• The number of children per class (15-22 children);
• Teachers’ and caregivers’ functional relations.

Looking ahead the bill will be sent to Parliament for discussion and approval.