Georgian PM unveils “ambitious” plans for education, culture, sports, art

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday outlined an “ambitious” four-year plan focused on enhancing education, science, youth initiatives, culture, sports and art in the country, during a Government meeting.

The meeting marked the first session for Aleksandre Tsuladze, the new Minister of Education, Science, and Youth Affairs of the country, Tinatin Rukhadze, the new Minister of Culture and Sports, and Shalva Gogoladze, her new First Deputy Minister.

Expressing confidence in the new cabinet members, Kobakhidze stated, “I am confident that together with our new colleagues we will implement all these plans with great success”.

He also revealed plans for a legislative change to split the current Ministry into two separate entities after Saturday’s parliamentary elections, when Rukhadze will assume the position of the Minister of Culture and Gogoladze will work as the Minister of Sports.

The PM also pledged “more care for arts” as “one of our main priorities” going forward.

He revealed an additional annual budget allocation had been secured specifically for the purpose, which he said would facilitate “numerous important projects”.

Addressing the education sector, Kobakhidze said a “key initiative” was the construction of new campuses for Tbilisi State University and “strengthening resources” of the Kutaisi International University in the country’s west.

This project will be implemented, making Kutaisi, alongside Tbilisi, an equally important educational hub for our country. By 2028, the number of students at Kutaisi University is expected to exceed 20,000. Furthermore, we have announced the Kutaisi Technological Hub project, which will foster the development of technology sectors and the IT industry as a whole”, he said.

Additionally, we have plans to construct and renovate over 500 schools within the next year. Similar progress will also be made in developing kindergartens and overall educational infrastructure”, Kobakhidze added.

The Prime Minister noted students in Georgia would have the opportunity to receive “high-quality education in their own country”, supported by “top-notch infrastructure”.