New academic year begins in Georgia

Thousands of students, young and old, are returning to school and university today as Georgia marks the first day of the 2014-2015 academic year.

Today more than 50,000 six-year-olds walked into classrooms for the first time today to begin their learning journey, said Georgia’s Ministry of Education and Science.

The country’s President congratulated the country’s learners and wished them success in a written statement.

He said today, particularly for new pupils, was a chance to gain new experiences and make new friends.

"Today, thousands of children, young people and teachers with their renewed energy join the daily work of mastering and deepening their knowledge,” Giorgi Margvelashvili said.

He stressed that the first day of school was exceptionally important for him as a former teacher and rector.

He particularly congratulated students who had entered schools or universities for the first time."I believe this day will be an unforgettable experience for them,” Margvelashvili noted.

At the start of the school day today, Government representatives congratulated all pupils, students and teachers and wished everyone a successful academic year.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili visited newly renovated school #133 in Tbilisi today. He said: "I congratulate the pupils and teachers on the start of the new academic year and I wish you all success. I believe the years you will spend in this school will be the most dedicated in your lives. PM Irakli Garibashvili and Ministry of Education and Science Tamar Sanikidze at school #133 in Tbilisi on September 15, 2014. Photo by PM's PO

”He spoke about the important role of teachers and said their role in the country’s education system was valuable.

"We do our best [to ensure] the teaching profession will become more honourable and better appreciated,” he said.

At #133 school, Garibashvili met teachers and pupils and discussed the current learning environment, educational reforms and his idea to raise teachers’ salaries.

"From 2015 the salary of teachers will increase and the policy of teachers’ salary will be regulated. The salary will increase in 2016 and 2017 years too. Each teacher would receive a salary based on their individual achievements, which will guarantee teachers to be motivated,” Garibashvili said.

According to the Ministry of Education, more than 1,000 schools had recently been renovated and about 50,000 pupils in rural areas were now provided with school transport.

Furthermore, more than half million children in Georgia received free school books for the upcoming academic year following Government financial support and more than 42,000 first class pupils received computers as a gift.

From September 15, two new schools opened - one in Mukhrani, a village in Mtskheta district and second in Abano, a village in Kareli district.