Tbilisi public school welcomes Ukrainian students with native language classes

Ukrainian students in Georgia who are unable to return to schools in their country due to the ongoing war were welcomed to classes in their native language at the Mykhailo Hrushevsky Tbilisi No. 41 Public School on Monday, Georgia’s Education Ministry revealed.

The school is spearheading the recent initiative of the Georgian Government to open Ukrainian-language sectors at local educational institutions for students from Ukraine who found themselves stranded in Georgia since Russia’s invasion of the country starting in February.

Georgian Education Minister Mikheil Chkhenkeli welcomed the students at the school - which is named after a prominent Ukrainian academician of the 20th century - and offered his congratulations on the opening of the native language sector, the Ministry said.

Photo: Education Ministry.

“The opening of the Ukrainian-speaking sector is a clear example of the great support of our brotherly Ukrainian nation by the Government of Georgia and the Georgian people. The Ukrainian sector ceased to function at Tbilisi No. 41 Public School in 2011, and today I am very proud that for the first time in 11 years, thanks to the efforts of our Government, Ukrainian students in Georgia again have the opportunity to learn their mother tongue,” Chkhenkeli said at the ceremony on Monday.

The Ministry said 130 students had expressed interest in joining the Ukrainian language sector at the school, adding qualified teachers had been selected for all classes from professionals recently arriving from Ukraine as well as local Ukrainian-speaking educators. Their selection was facilitated in “close cooperation” with the Embassy of Ukraine, the national body added.

Photo: Education Ministry.

Andriy Kasyanov, the Chargé d'Affaires of Ukraine in Georgia, was also present at the opening of the classes for Ukrainian students at the public school, with the diplomatic extending his gratitude to the Prime Minister of Georgia and the Minister of Education for their support. 

The Ukrainian sector is being established in Georgia with an official status for the first time since 1999, with all subjects to be taught to students on elementary, basic and intermediate levels in their native language.

Photo: Education Ministry.

Ukrainian students who, due to the hostilities in their country, are unable to continue their general education back in their country, are enrolled in Georgian schools in a simplified manner, with 426 students of different ages already joining classes in Tbilisi and the regions following the Government initiative.