On General Education

Law of Georgia

On General Education

Article 1. Georgian legislation in the field of general education and the scope of application of this Law🔗

1. Georgian legislation in the field of general education consists of the Constitution of Georgia, the Constitutional Agreement, international treaties and agreements, this Law, other laws and subordinate acts.

2. This Law regulates the conditions for carrying out general educational activity in Georgia, the principles and rules for the management and financing of general education, establishes the status of all general educational institutions (regardless of their organisational-legal form), the rules for their establishment, operation, reorganisation, liquidation and authorisation, as well as the conditions and procedure for the conduct of the activity of teachers of general educational institutions.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31 March 2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23 March 2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 - LHG I, No. 47, 5 August 2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2022 No. 1465 – website, 6 April 2022

Article 2. Definition of Terms🔗

The terms used in this Law have the following meanings:

a) authorization – the procedure for obtaining the status of a general educational institution, the purpose of which is to ensure compliance with the standards necessary for carrying out the relevant activity in order to issue a state document certifying general education;

a¹) (deleted – 30 March 2022, No. 1465);

a²) (deleted – 30 March 2022, No. 1465);

b) individual work – apart from the lessons (hours) established by the school curriculum, the teacher's work with a pupil/group of pupils in order to achieve the objectives of the National Curriculum;

b¹) Director's Code of Ethics – a set of rules of conduct for the Director;

b²) distance learning – a learning process or part thereof organized in a general educational institution of Georgia for obtaining general education and/or for completing a subject/subject group provided for by the National Curriculum, conducted in a distance/electronic form or using other means of communication, based on information and communication technologies, which does not provide for the simultaneous presence of a pupil and the personnel of the general educational institution at a specified place. For the implementation of distance learning, proper planning of the curriculum and the use of appropriate approaches and methods for organizing and conducting the learning process are necessary;

c) disciplinary misconduct – violation of the rules established by the internal regulations of a general educational institution;

d) disciplinary proceedings – a set of measures carried out by a general educational institution, the purpose of which is to detect a disciplinary misconduct committed by a pupil or a teacher;

e) disciplinary penalty – a measure of influence provided for by the internal regulations of a general educational institution for a disciplinary misconduct;

e¹) (deleted – 20 September 2018, No. 3439);

f) National Curriculum – a document that covers, for all levels of general education, learning objectives and outcomes to be achieved (skills, knowledge and values), the content of teaching, the hourly distribution of subjects, the conditions for organizing the learning environment, the conceptual principles of the learning process and administrative matters;

g) additional educational services provided for by the National Curriculum – services rendered by public schools, as determined by the school curriculum, within the maximum number of hours in the subjects provided for by the National Curriculum;

h) additional educational and upbringing services not provided for by the National Curriculum – educational and upbringing services rendered by public schools, as determined by the school curriculum, in upbringing subjects and subjects not provided for by the National Curriculum;

i) national assessment system – a system by means of which the State verifies the extent to which pupils' achievements correspond to the achievement levels established by the national curricula and the extent to which it is realistic to achieve these levels;

j) externat – the procedure for receiving the state document certifying general education by a person who has independently mastered general education programmes;

k) voucher – a financial instrument intended to finance the receipt of general education by a pupil;

l) general education – education the purpose of which is the upbringing of a citizen of Georgia and preparation for further professional and public life after general education. The learning outcomes of the basic level of general education correspond to the generalized learning outcomes defined for level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework, while the learning outcomes of the secondary level of general education/full general education correspond to the generalized learning outcomes defined for level 4 of the National Qualifications Framework. In Georgia, full general education comprises no less than 11 years and no more than 12 years;

l¹) state document certifying general education/document certifying general education – document certifying full general education – attestat; document certifying basic general education – attestat;

m) document of the national goals of general education – a document which, in accordance with this Law, determines the goals of the general education system existing in the country. The document of the national goals of general education is the basis for the development of the national curriculum and the main indicators of the general education system. The document of the national goals of general education is adopted by the Government of Georgia upon the submission of the Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia (hereinafter – the Minister) and submitted to the Parliament of Georgia for approval;

n) levels of general education – 3 levels of full general education in Georgia: primary level (6 years – grades I–VI), basic level (3 years – grades VII–IX) and secondary level (2 years – grades X and XI and an optional 1 year – grade XII);

o) general education system – the aggregate of national and school curricula, general education institutions implementing them, and those state bodies and legal entities of public law which ensure the receipt of general education;

p) general education institution/school:

p.a) a legal entity of public law authorized in the manner determined by the Minister or a private law entrepreneurial or non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity which carries out general education activity in accordance with the national curriculum and fully covers at least one level of general education;

p.b) an institution implementing the general education programme provided for by Article 34¹ of this Law;

p¹) general education programme recognized abroad – a general education programme recognized by an authorized institution of a foreign country with which the legal entity of public law – the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement – has concluded a contract;

q) Administrative and financial autonomy of a general education institution – self-government of a general education institution, the subjects of which in a public school are: Board of Trustees, administration, Pedagogical Council, student self-government, Disciplinary Committee, as well as Appellate Committee – if such exists;

r) (deleted – 17 March 2006, No. 2793);

s) (deleted – 30 March 2022, No. 1465);

t) Inclusive education – an equally accessible educational process, within the framework of which the receipt of education is ensured for every student, taking into account individual educational needs and capabilities;

u) Capital expenditures – payments the purpose of which is the acquisition of capital assets, strategic and special reserves, goods, land, intangible assets, the acquisition of buildings and structures, machinery and equipment, devices, transport and other fixed assets, capital repair, construction and reconstruction;

v) Private school – a general education institution established in the form of a legal entity of private law;

w) Class – a temporary association of students of a general education institution maintained for at least one academic year, which is formed in accordance with the recommendations given in the national curricula and the charter of this institution and the students united in which mainly study together the general education programmes of one of the levels of general education;

w

1) Teacher – a person possessing professional knowledge, skills and appropriate qualification as defined by the teacher's professional standard, who teaches at least one subject in a general education institution; special teacher;

w²) Code of Professional Ethics of Teachers – a set of norms of professional conduct of a teacher;

w³) Teacher's Professional Standard – a list of professional duties, knowledge, skills and values, as well as qualifications, which every teacher in a position provided for by Article 21² of this Law must meet;

w⁴) Candidate for teaching – a person who has at least a bachelor's academic degree in the direction of a subject/subject group provided for by the national curriculum and/or a document certifying arts or sports professional education (in the case of a teacher of an arts or sports subject/subject group) and who, based on the needs of the general education institution, has been employed in a general education institution for not more than 2 years;

w⁵) Mobility of students in a general education institution – free movement of students to participate in the educational process both in Georgia and abroad, in accordance with the legislation of Georgia and the rules established by the general education institution, which is accompanied by recognition of the education and

assessments received during the period of study;

w⁶) (deleted – 28 November 2014, No. 2822);

w⁷) teacher's professional development and career advancement scheme − a scheme of continuous professional development of a teacher approved by the Government of Georgia in accordance with this Law, which is based on the teacher's professional standard and determines the conditions for the teacher's inclusion in this scheme and the ways and means of the teacher's assessment, professional development and career advancement;

w⁸) student – a person who is enrolled in a general education institution in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia;

w⁹) invited teacher − a person (except a foreign invited teacher) who, without being included in the teacher's professional development and career advancement scheme, teaches in a general education institution a subject provided for or not provided for by the national curriculum, whose workload is not more than 50 percent of the class hours determined by the legislation of Georgia for the full workload of a teacher and who has the competence necessary for teaching the relevant subject and/or practical experience of working in the relevant field;

w¹⁰) substitute teacher − a person substituting a temporarily absent teacher, who has at least a bachelor's academic degree in the direction of a subject/subject group provided for by the national curriculum and who, without being included in the teacher's professional development and career advancement scheme, teaches in a general education institution subjects provided for or not provided for by the national curriculum, if, due to the needs of the general education institution, it is impossible to replace the temporarily absent teacher with another teacher of the same general education institution who meets the requirements established by the Minister for an invited teacher;

w¹¹) foreign invited teacher − a citizen of a foreign country whose right to teach is recognized on the basis of the rule defined by subparagraph „r2“ of paragraph 1 of Article 26 of this Law and who, without being included in the teacher's professional development and career advancement scheme, teaches in a general education institution a subject provided for or not provided for by the national curriculum and who has the competence necessary for teaching the relevant subject and/or practical experience of working in the relevant field;

x) individual curriculum − a curriculum created by adapting the national curriculum, taking into account the special educational needs of the student, which is part of the school curriculum;

x¹) student's code of conduct – a set of rules of student behaviour;

x²) alternative curriculum − a curriculum based on the basic principles of the national curriculum, which is intended for a student with severe/profound intellectual and/or multiple disorders or with multiple sensory disorders (deaf and blind) and is part of the national curriculum;

x³) extended curriculum − a curriculum that is focused on strengthening specific competencies conditioned by the educational needs of a pupil with sensory impairment and is part of the national curriculum;

x⁴) specialized class − a class of pupils of the same age or with an age difference of not more than 3 years, having homogeneous educational needs;

x⁵) integrated class − a group of pupils with homogeneous educational needs, enrolled in different classes, of the same age or with an age difference of not more than 3 years;

y) parent – a pupil's parent or legal representative;

y¹) school resource officer of an educational institution − a capable citizen of Georgia with relevant education and no criminal record, who ensures the protection of safety and public order in the educational institution;

y²) (deleted – 13 June 2018, No. 2523);

z) small-enrolment school − a school in which, due to local conditions, a small number of pupils study. The norm for a small-enrolment school shall be established by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia (hereinafter – the Ministry);

z¹) multilingual education – education the purpose of which is the development and deepening of pupils' language competencies in different languages. It implies the organization, in the general education system, of such instruction as will increase the effectiveness of the study and use of the said languages;

z²) pupil with special educational needs − a pupil who needs additional support in the learning process, has significant, prolonged difficulties related to learning and/or access to the learning environment, and/or cannot meet the requirements provided for by the national curriculum at a minimum level, as well as a pupil who is a person with disabilities as defined by the Law of Georgia "On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities", who needs additional support in the learning process, has significant, prolonged difficulties related to learning and/or access to the learning environment, and/or cannot meet the requirements provided for by the national curriculum at a minimum level;

z³) psycho-educational assessment and counselling − a service provided by the Legal Entity of Public Law – the School Resource Officer Service of the Educational Institution, within the framework of which, for the purpose of determining/identifying the special educational needs of a person/pupil, an assessment of that person/pupil, the selection of the best form of education and the provision of counselling services related to the educational process are carried out;

z⁴) deleted – 29 November 2019, No. 5406);

z⁵) social worker − a social worker of the Legal Entity of Public Law – the School Resource Officer Service of the Educational Institution;

z⁶) boarding service – the offering of a day/round-the-clock service by a school/resource school of a category determined by the Minister, which includes the provision of pupils with living conditions, meals and additional programmes/services;

z⁷) resource school:

ch7.a) a school designated for pupils with sensory impairment and/or severe/profound intellectual and/or multiple disorders or with multiple sensory impairments (deaf and blind) or with behavioural and emotional disorders, which carries out general education activities in accordance with the national curriculum, and also provides pupils with special educational needs, parents and teachers with appropriate programmes/services;

ch7.b) a school which carries out general education activities in accordance with the national curriculum, fully covers the basic level and/or the secondary level of general education and provides enhanced teaching of one or several subjects provided for by the national curriculum;

z⁸) transition – a process tailored to a person's needs and effectively coordinated, which implies the entry of a school-age person into school and the mobility of a pupil to another school, which is carried out through the cooperation of the parties participating in this process and serves the successful involvement of the person/pupil in the learning process;

aa) (removed – 2 March 2007, No. 4412);

bb) pedagogical activity – the teacher's classroom and additional individual and group work with pupils;

cc) piloting – verification in schools of the objectives of the national curriculum and of the feasibility of the means of achieving these objectives;

cc¹) (removed – 28 November 2014, No. 2822);

dd) school time – the time of the course of the process determined by the school curriculum, as well as of any activity initiated, organised, controlled and funded by the school;

ee) school curriculum – a curriculum which is based on the national curriculum and determines for a specific general education institution interim learning objectives, basic and additional educational resources, hourly workload, assessment instruments, additional educational services provided for by the national curriculum, additional educational services and upbringing services not provided for by the national curriculum, transition support activities and school educational activities;

ff) public school – a general education institution established in the form of a legal entity of public law;

ff¹) (removed – 28 November 2014, No. 2822);

ff²) (removed – 28 November 2014, No. 2822);

gg) school administration – the school principal, his/her deputy/deputies and the accounting department;

gg¹) school pedagogical council – the self-governing body of the school's teachers;

gg²) school board of trustees – the highest elected body of school self-governance;

h

3) non-contact surface inspection − inspection of a student by a mandaturi of the educational institution of the same sex, and in his/her absence, by a person of the same sex authorised for that purpose designated by the school principal, using a metal detector, without physical contact, and/or inspection of a thing using a metal detector;

gg⁴) sufficient ground for assumption − a fact and/or information that would satisfy an objective observer, taking into account the circumstances, for drawing a conclusion.

gg⁵) distance course of the teacher training educational programme − a learning process or part thereof approved by the Minister, which a person may complete remotely. The conduct of the said course shall be ensured by a Legal Entity of Public Law – the National Centre for Teacher Professional Development and/or a higher educational institution;

gg⁶) specialised commission – a specialised commission composed of experts of the relevant field, specialists and persons designated by the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, created by the Minister of Culture of Georgia, which, in accordance with the procedure established by the same Minister, on the basis of a monument of the category of national significance or a monument of intangible cultural heritage entered in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, develops a textbook/series and submits it for the award of a seal of approval. This commission is also authorised to determine the compliance of alternative textbooks/series created on the basis of a monument of the category of national significance or a monument of intangible cultural heritage entered in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity with the above-mentioned monument.

[gg⁶) (deleted - 04.02.2026, No. 1353) (shall enter into force from 1 September 2028)]

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 28 March 2007 No. 4530 - LHG I, No. 15, 23.04.2007, Art. 119

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 - LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2010 No. 2940 - LHG I, No. 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 122

Law of Georgia of 2 July 2010 No. 3292 - LHG I, No. 37, 14.07.2010, Art. 223

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3544 - LHG I, No. 46, 04.08.2010, Art. 291

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 - LHG I, No. 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 - LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 22 February 2011 No. 4204 – website, 10.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2011 No. 4321 – website, 22.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2011 No. 4322 – website, 22.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 20 December 2011 No. 5513 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia of 28 December 2011 No. 5666 - website, 12.01.2012

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2012 No. 173 – website, 08.01.2013

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 – website, 15.12.2014.

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 – website, 05.01.2017.

Law of Georgia of 13 June 2018 No. 2523 – website, 29.06.2018.

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018.

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2018 No. 2753 – website, 19.07.2018.

Law of Georgia of 20 July 2018 No. 3243 – website, 10.08.2018.

Law of Georgia of 20 September 2018 No. 3439 – website, 05.10.2018.

Law of Georgia of 20 September 2018 No. 3443 – website, 09.10.2018.

Law of Georgia of 19 April 2019 No. 4524 – website, 24.04.2019.

Law of Georgia of 29 November 2019 No. 5406 – website, 10.12.2019.

Law of Georgia of 12 June 2020 No. 6286 – website, 15.06.2020.

Law of Georgia of 14 July 2020 No. 6829 – website, 28.07.2020.

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021.

Law of Georgia of 1 February 2022 No. 1353 – website, 08.02.2022.

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2022 No. 1465 – website, 06.04.2022.

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2022 No. 2250 – website, 14.12.2022.

Law of Georgia of 15 November 2023 No. 3663 – website, 05.12.2023.

Law of Georgia of 30 November 2023 No. 3825 – website, 15.12.2023.

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2023 No. 3959 – website, 25.12.2023.

Law of Georgia of 18 July 2024 No. 4372 – website, 30.07.2024.

Law of Georgia of 12 December 2024 No. 83 – website, 28.12.2024.

Law of Georgia of 4 February 2026 No. 1353 – website, 05.02.2026.

Article 3. Main goals of state policy in the field of general education🔗

1. The main goals of state policy in the field of general education in Georgia are:

a) creation of the conditions necessary for the formation of the student as a free person possessing national and universal values;

b) development of the student's intellectual and physical skills, provision with the necessary knowledge, establishment of a healthy lifestyle, formation of civic consciousness based on liberal-democratic values, respect for cultural values by the student, assistance in the student's awareness of rights and obligations before the family, society, the state and the environment.

2. To achieve the goals provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article, the state ensures:

a) openness and equal accessibility of general education for everyone throughout life;

b) integration of the general education system of Georgia into the international educational space;

c) independence of the public school from religious and political associations, and independence of the private school from political associations;

d) establishment of systems for the development and implementation of national assessments and the national curriculum, which implies planning and management of the general educational process through the determination and assessment of the quality of teaching;

e) conduct of the authorisation process of general educational institutions and promotion of the continuous development of the quality of general education;

f) administrative and financial autonomy of general educational institutions;

g) elimination of violence in general educational institutions;

h) introduction of inclusive education;

i) regulation of the teachers' profession.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 - LHG I, No. 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 - LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2022 No. 1465 – website, 06.04.2022

Article 4. Language of instruction🔗

1. In general education institutions, the language of instruction is Georgian, and in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia – Georgian or Abkhazian.

2. In the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, in those general education institutions where instruction is conducted in one of the state languages, instruction in the other state language is mandatory.

3. Citizens of Georgia for whom Georgian is not a native language have the right to receive complete general education in their native language, in accordance with the national curriculum, in the manner established by legislation. In this general education institution, instruction in the state language is mandatory, and in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia – in both state languages.

4. In cases provided for by international treaties and agreements of Georgia, instruction in a general education institution may be conducted in a foreign language. In this general education institution, instruction in the state language is mandatory, and in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia – in both state languages.

4¹. Instruction in a foreign language is permissible in the general education institution provided for by subparagraph „p.b“ of Article 2 of this Law, in agreement with the Ministry. In this case, instruction in the state language – Georgian – is mandatory, and in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia – also in Abkhazian.

5. In a general education institution, where necessary, Georgian sign language and the principles of bilingual instruction shall be used as the language of instruction for a student with hearing impairment, and in that general education institution where only students with hearing impairment receive education, the use of Georgian sign language and/or the principles of bilingual instruction shall be mandatory.

6. In a general education institution, where necessary, the Braille system and/or appropriate assistive technologies shall be used with a student with visual impairment, and in that general education institution where only students with visual impairment receive education, the use of the Braille system and/or appropriate assistive technologies shall be mandatory.

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 - LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 - website, 05.01.2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2018 No. 2753 – website, 19.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 5. National Curriculum🔗

1. To achieve the goals provided for by Article 3 of this Law, the State shall develop the National Curriculum, which determines: the goals of learning and teaching, the knowledge to be acquired in each subject and the educational principles on which the methodology of learning and teaching and the assessment system shall be based, as well as the necessary subject groups according to the levels of general education, the hours per subject, their distribution and the necessary workload, the conditions for organising the learning environment and recommendations.

1¹. For a pupil with special educational needs, where necessary, the general educational institution shall develop an individual curriculum on the basis of the National Curriculum.

1². When teaching pupils with severe/profound intellectual and/or multiple disorders or with multiple sensory disorders (deaf and blind), the general educational institution, on the basis of the conclusion of a psycho-educational assessment, shall be guided by the relevant parts of the National Curriculum, including an alternative curriculum and/or an extended curriculum, including a sensory curriculum and/or a curriculum of remediation and accelerated learning.

1³. In order to strengthen the specific competencies of a pupil with a sensory disorder, where necessary, the general educational institution shall also use the extended curriculum determined by the National Curriculum.

2. (Removed - 29.06.2018, No. 2753).

3. The National Curriculum includes the following subject groups:

a) state language;

b) mathematics;

c) foreign languages;

d) social sciences;

e) natural sciences;

f) technologies;

g) aesthetic education;

h) sport.

4. The subject groups provided for by subparagraphs „a“ and „d“ of paragraph 3 of this Article shall, in those general educational institutions where teaching is carried out in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 4 of this Law, be taught in Georgian, and in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia – in Georgian and/or Abkhazian.

5. The implementation of the National Curriculum is mandatory for all general educational institutions and for that educational institution implementing a secondary vocational educational programme in which the learning outcomes of the secondary level of general education are integrated.

6. The teaching of the subjects provided for by the national and school curricula shall be academic, objective and non-discriminatory.

7. The National Curriculum may provide for a modified National Curriculum and/or the possibility of modifying the National Curriculum:

a) according to the types of general educational institutions provided for by Article 31¹ of this Law;

b) for the purpose of integrating the learning outcomes of the secondary level of general education into a secondary vocational educational programme.

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 - LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014.

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 – website, 05.01.2017.

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2018 No. 2753 – website, 19.07.2018.

Law of Georgia of 20 September 2018 No. 3443 – website, 09.10.2018.

Law of Georgia of 15 November 2023 No. 3663 – website, 05.12.2023.

Article 6. General Education🔗

1. Completion of full general education implies:

a) completion of grades X and XI of the secondary level of general education, on the basis of which a document certifying full general education is issued − a certificate;

b) completion of a secondary vocational educational programme in which the learning outcomes of the secondary level of general education are integrated, and confirmation of the completion of the said programme in accordance with the procedure established by the Ministry, on the basis of which a document certifying secondary vocational education is issued − a diploma and a document certifying full general education, except for the case provided for by the Law of Georgia "on Vocational Education";

c) after completion of the secondary level of general education/secondary vocational educational programme provided for by subparagraph "a"/subparagraph "b" of this paragraph, taking the optional XII grade of the secondary level of general education, on the basis of which a document certifying full general education is issued − a certificate.

1¹. (Removed - 08.04.2019, No. 4495).

1². The model of the state document certifying general education and the procedure for confirming the learning outcomes of the secondary level of general education achieved by a vocational student within the framework of the secondary vocational educational programme in which the learning outcomes of the secondary level of general education are integrated shall be approved by the Ministry.

2. Accelerated completion of a general education programme shall be permissible only in a special case, taking into account the individual abilities of the pupil, in accordance with the procedure established by the Ministry.

3. At the request of a pupil or his/her parent, a general educational institution shall be obliged to issue a certificate confirming the pupil's completion of subjects in the form developed by the Ministry.

4. It shall be inadmissible for a pupil to be left outside the general education system before completing the level of attainment of the basic level.

5. Persons holding a document certifying completion of any level of general education shall have the right, throughout the entire territory of Georgia, to continue their studies at the next level of general education.

5¹. If a person with special educational needs does not have an educational history or has missed a grade/grades for certain reasons, on the basis of the conclusion of a psycho-educational assessment, this person shall have the right, without external studies, to be enrolled in school at the primary or basic level of general education in the grade corresponding to his/her age or in a grade not more than 3 grades lower. A person with special educational needs over 18 years of age shall be enrolled in school at the basic level of general education in the corresponding grade determined by the conclusion of the psycho-educational assessment.

5². For the purpose of continuing studies in a public school by a person with special educational needs, his/her enrolment in the resource school provided for by subparagraph "z7.a" of Article 2 of this Law and re-assessment shall be carried out on the basis of the conclusion of the psycho-educational assessment and the consent of the parent/legal representative of this person.

6. The age for starting studies at the primary level of general education is 6 years, which the person reaches by 15 September inclusive.

6¹. A general education programme/programmes implemented in a foreign language at the primary, basic and secondary levels of general education (including in the cases provided for by paragraphs 4 and 4¹ of Article 4 of this Law) may provide for years different from the academic years determined for the primary, basic and secondary levels of general education by subparagraph „n“ of Article 2 of this Law, provided that the total number of years of instruction of the general education programme/programmes implemented in a foreign language at the primary, basic and secondary levels of general education (including in the cases provided for by paragraphs 4 and 4¹ of Article 4 of this Law) is not less than 11 or more than 12.

7. (Removed – 21.07.2010, No. 3530).

Law of Georgia of 28 March 2007 No. 4530 – LHG I, No. 15, 23.04.2007, Art. 119

Law of Georgia of 16 July 2010 No. 3442 – LHG I, No. 44, 28.07.2010, Art. 273

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 – LHG I, No. 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 – LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2011 No. 4321 – website, 22.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 4 April 2014 No. 2210 – website, 14.04.2014

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 – website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 – website, 05.01.2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2018 No. 2753 – website, 19.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 20 September 2018 No. 3443 – website, 09.10.2018

Law of Georgia of 8 April 2019 No. 4495 – website, 11.04.2019

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2022 No. 1465 – website, 06.04.2022

Law of Georgia of 14 April 2022 No. 1513 – website, 19.04.2022

Law of Georgia of 3 May 2023 No. 2854 – website, 11.05.2023

Law of Georgia of 15 November 2023 No. 3663 – website, 05.12.2023

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2023 No. 3959 – website, 25.12.2023

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2025 No. 690 – website, 26.06.2025

Law of Georgia of 4 February 2026 No. 1353 – website, 05.02.2026

Article 6¹. Distance learning🔗

1. Distance learning provides for the conduct of the educational process in a distance/electronic form or through the use of other means of communication.

2. Distance learning is carried out in the form of synchronous or asynchronous communication. Synchronous communication means such interaction where communication between the sender and the recipient of information is carried out at the same time, while asynchronous communication means such interaction where communication between the sender and the recipient of information is not carried out at the same time.

3. The distance learning programme is built in accordance with the requirements established by the legislation of Georgia for the general education programme and/or for the subject/subject group provided for by the national curriculum.

4. The decision on the admission of distance learning in general education institutions of Georgia and on the period of implementation of distance learning, as well as the decision on the general education institution which must use distance learning to provide general education, shall be taken by the Minister by an individual administrative-legal act.

5. The rules and conditions for conducting the educational process remotely in general education institutions of Georgia and for assessing the results obtained shall be approved by the Minister.

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 – website, 05.01.2017.

Law of Georgia of 12 June 2020 No. 6286 – website, 15.06.2020.

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021.

Article 7. Accessibility of General Education🔗

1. The State shall ensure the right of each pupil (including a pupil with special educational needs) to receive general education as close as possible to his/her place of residence, in the state or native language.

2. If the exercise by pupils of the right defined by paragraph 1 of this Article is impossible through a standard voucher, the State shall provide such pupils with an increased voucher and/or additional funding within the framework of the relevant targeted programme approved by the Ministry.

3. The Ministry shall, through the amount of the increased voucher and additional funding, ensure:

a) openness of general education in public school and its equal accessibility for everyone throughout life;

b) introduction of inclusive education and multilingual education in public school;

c) improvement of the material-technical, programme and human resources of the public school;

d) appropriate remuneration of the work of teachers, administration and administrative-technical personnel of the public school;

e) creation of a health-safe environment in the public school;

f) uninterrupted conduct of the educational process in the public school, in particular − in a public school which, as a result of reorganisation, has on its balance sheet more than one administrative building used in the educational process, as well as in public schools located in a village/small town and in a high-mountainous region and in a multi-sector public school.

4. The State shall ensure the receipt of general education in a penitentiary institution in accordance with the procedure established by the Penitentiary Code.

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2006 No. 4129 - LHG I, No. 49, 29.12.2006, Art. 372

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2010 No. 2725 - LHG I, No. 12, 24.03.2010, Art. 61

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 - LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2023 No. 3996 – website, 26.12.2023

Article 7¹. Start of the academic year in general education institutions of Georgia🔗

1. In all general education institutions of Georgia, the academic year begins on 15 September. If 15 September falls on a rest day or a public holiday, studies shall begin on the first working day following it.

2. By an individual administrative-legal act of the Minister, a date for the start of the academic year different from that provided for by paragraph 1 of this article may be determined for all or a specific general education institution:

a) when carrying out piloting in a public school in accordance with this Law;

b) in the presence of an emergency situation provided for by the Law of Georgia “On Civil Safety”, as well as when performing rehabilitation works of the general education institution/institutions;

c) on the basis of a substantiated request of a private school.

Law of Georgia of 10 June 2016 No. 5420 – website, 17.06.2016.

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018.

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021.

Article 8. Basic guarantees🔗

1. A pupil, a parent and a teacher, as well as their associations, have the right, under equal conditions, without discrimination, in accordance with the established procedure, during school time or on school territory, to enjoy all rights and freedoms protected by this Chapter and recognized by the school, as well as all school resources.

2. The school has the right, during school time or on school territory, on a non-discriminatory basis, to restrict the rights and freedoms of outside persons.

3. The school may establish rules for non-discriminatory and neutral restriction, during school time or on school territory, of the rights and freedoms of a pupil, a parent and a teacher, as well as of their associations, in order to fulfil the requirements of this Law, as well as if there exists a substantiated and imminent threat:

a) to health, life and security of property;

b) of encouragement of the use of drugs, alcohol or tobacco or of unlawful action;

c) of dissemination of obscenity or defamation, incitement of ethnic or religious hatred, incitement to crime or violence;

d) of obstruction of the course of the educational process, of the school's activity or of free movement on school territory.

4. Any restriction of the rights and freedoms of a pupil, a parent and a teacher shall be reasonable, proportionate, minimal and shall be carried out only on the basis of the established procedure, in full compliance with the Code of Professional Ethics of a Teacher, with due and fair procedure.

5. Such restriction of the rights and freedoms of a pupil, a parent and a teacher as is essentially tantamount to their abolition shall be inadmissible. Any restriction or regulation may provide for such neutral restrictions of the place, time and form of exercise of their rights and freedoms as do not affect the content or the expressive effect of information or ideas and leave an effective opportunity to exercise them by alternative means.

6. In enjoying the rights and freedoms of a pupil, a parent and a teacher recognized by this Law, their lawfulness shall be presumed. In a dispute arising in their regard, the burden of proving the unlawfulness of the enjoyment of these rights and freedoms shall be borne by the initiator of the restriction.

7. It shall be inadmissible for the school to finance an event that contradicts the purposes of this Law.

8. This Law does not deny those universally recognized rights and freedoms that are not mentioned here but follow by themselves from the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Article 8¹. Compliance with the requirements established by the Law of Georgia “On Family Values and Protection of Minors”🔗

It is prohibited to include in the educational programme of a general educational institution/school such information, and/or for an employee of a general educational institution/school, within the scope of the activities of this institution/school and/or on the territory of the same institution/school, to disseminate such information or to facilitate the dissemination of such information, where such information is aimed at the popularisation of the attribution of a person to neither biological sex and/or the attribution of a person to a sex different from his/her biological sex, of relationships between representatives of the same biological sex expressed on the basis of sexual orientation, or of incest. For the purposes of this Article, the term “popularisation” is defined in accordance with the Law of Georgia “On Family Values and Protection of Minors”.

Law of Georgia No. 4445 of 17 September 2024 – website, 3 October 2024.

Article 9. Right to Receive General Education🔗

1. Everyone has an equal right to receive complete general education in order to fully develop his/her personality and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for equal opportunities to achieve success in private and public life. Primary and basic education shall be compulsory.

2. To ensure the receipt of general education, the State shall create the general education system and appropriate socio-economic conditions.

3. For a student with special educational needs, an alternative curriculum, an individual curriculum based on the national curriculum and/or an extended curriculum shall be used, in accordance with which his/her instruction, social adaptation and integration into public life shall be carried out. A student with special educational needs in a public school shall, if necessary, be provided with appropriate human resources and programmes/services, the financing of which shall be ensured by the State.

4. General education may be received in the form of externship. An extern has the right to receive a state document certifying general education in the form of externship upon passing the achievement level established by the national curriculum.

4¹. The Ministry shall establish the rules and conditions for receiving general education in the form of externship. The Ministry is authorized to establish, in connection with receiving general education in the form of externship, time limits for filing and consideration of an administrative complaint that differ from those provided for by the General Administrative Code of Georgia.

5. General education may be provided through alternative forms, in accordance with the procedure established by the Ministry, taking into account the age characteristics of students and their working and family conditions.

6. The State shall protect the freedom of educational choice of the student and the parent. The parent's freedom of educational choice does not imply:

a) the right to evade compulsory education;

b) education that would impede the achievement of the goals of this Law.

6¹. For the purpose of receiving general education, a contract shall be concluded between the parent/respective authorized person of a person lacking legal capacity/with limited legal capacity and the school, and in the case of a person with legal capacity, between this person and the school.

7. The school shall be obliged to take all reasonable measures to ensure a fair assessment of the student's knowledge. It shall be inadmissible for a student's academic assessment to be conditioned by his/her discipline.

8. A student has the right to be protected from ill-treatment, neglect and humiliation.

9. A school shall be obliged to create, on the school territory and/or the territory adjacent thereto, during school hours, an environment safe for health, life and property, and to observe the rules and conditions for ensuring security and public order in a general education institution provided for by subparagraph „gg11“ of paragraph 1 of Article 26 of this Law. For this purpose, a private school is entitled to conclude with a legal entity of public law – the Mandatur Service of the Educational Institution – a contract on the provision of security and public order protection and/or psychosocial services. In a public school, the services of the legal entity of public law – the Mandatur Service of the Educational Institution – shall be funded from the State Budget of Georgia.

10. A school shall be obliged to take all reasonable measures during school hours, as well as on the school territory or the territory adjacent thereto, for the purpose of the proper protection of the rights and freedoms of a pupil, a parent and a teacher, and the prevention or suppression of violations thereof.

11. A pupil expelled from a school has the right to continue studies at another school.

12. A pupil has the right to transfer from one school to another school at the same level of general education, in accordance with the procedure established by the Ministry.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 – LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2006 No. 4129 – LHG I, No. 49, 29.12.2006, Art. 372

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 – LHG I, No. 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 – LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 22 February 2011 No. 4204 – website, 10.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2011 No. 4321 – website, 22.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 13 June 2018 No. 2523 – website, 29.06.2018

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2018 No. 2753 – website, 19.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 8 April 2019 No. 4495 – website, 11.04.2019

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 15 November 2023 No. 3663 – website, 05.12.2023

Law of Georgia of 4 February 2026 No. 1353 – website, 05.02.2026

Article 10. Right to knowledge about one's own rights and freedoms🔗

1. A pupil, a parent and a teacher have the right to possess information about their rights and freedoms, as well as about the grounds for their restriction.

2. A school shall be obliged to acquaint every new pupil, parent and teacher with their rights and freedoms.

3. A school shall be obliged, when restricting rights and freedoms, to explain to a pupil, a parent and a teacher the ground for the restriction within a reasonable time.

4. The information provided for by this Article shall be communicated to a pupil in accordance with his/her age and individual capabilities, by accessible means of communication.

Law of Georgia of 20 September 2019 No. 5018 – website, 27.09.2019

Law of Georgia of 21 May 2020 No. 5918 – website, 25.05.2020

Article 11. Right to participate in school governance🔗

1. A pupil, a parent and a teacher have the right to participate in school governance personally or through an elected representative.

2. A pupil, a parent and a teacher have the right to receive any information existing in the school, except information containing personal data.

3. A pupil, a parent and a teacher have the right to request and receive the opportunity to have their opinion heard and to participate directly or through a representative in the consideration when a matter relating to them is decided by the school.

4. When an action is carried out in respect of a pupil, his/her true interest shall be protected.

Law of Georgia No. 6328 of 25 May 2012 – website, 12.06.2012

Article 12. Right to appeal🔗

1. A pupil, a parent and a teacher have the right, in order to protect their rights and freedoms, to appeal the unlawful and other unjustified actions of a teacher, a school and the mandaturi of an educational institution, as well as to receive full compensation for the damage caused.

2. The school shall create an effective means of independent and impartial consideration of complaints.

2¹. The Legal Entity of Public Law − Mandaturi Service of the Educational Institution shall create an effective means of impartial consideration of complaints.

3. Labour disputes arising between the director of a public school and the employees of that public school, between the board of trustees and the director, as well as between the director of a public school and the Ministry, shall be considered by a court as civil disputes in accordance with civil procedure.

4. (Removed - 20.03.2013, No. 348).

5. In civil and administrative proceedings, representation of a public school in court shall be ensured by the Ministry or an employee of the relevant territorial body of the Ministry on the basis of a power of attorney of the director of that public school, and in the territories of the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara – by the relevant Ministry authorised in the field of education or an employee of the Ministry.

Law of Georgia No. 790 of 19 December 2008 - LHG I, No. 40, 29.12.2008, Art. 257

Law of Georgia No. 1385 of 11 July 2009 - LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia No. 3442 of 16 July 2010 - LHG I, No. 44, 28.07.2010, Art. 273

Law of Georgia No. 4322 of 9 March 2011 – website, 22.03.2011

Law of Georgia No. 5511 of 20 December 2011 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia No. 348 of 20 March 2013 – website, 28.03.2013

Law of Georgia No. 2822 of 28 November 2014 - website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia No. 2523 of 13 June 2018 - website, 29.06.2018

Law of Georgia No. 3025 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia No. 338 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 13. Neutrality and Non-discrimination🔗

1. Politicization of the educational process in a general education institution shall be inadmissible.

2. The use of the educational process in a public school for the purposes of religious indoctrination, proselytism or forced assimilation shall be inadmissible. This norm does not restrict the celebration of state holidays and historical dates in a public school, as well as the holding of an event aimed at establishing national and universal values.

3. Any kind of discrimination upon admission to school shall be inadmissible. This norm does not exclude the possibility of holding a selection competition in those general education institutions that carry out military, specialized arts and sports training, as well as in schools of other status. When holding a selection competition, it is necessary to take into account the person's special educational needs.

4. It shall be inadmissible for a school to use its own powers and resources in such a manner as may directly or indirectly cause any discrimination of a pupil, a parent and a teacher, as well as of their associations.

5. Any distinguishing act or allowance of an exception shall be considered discrimination, except in the case where such act or exception is fair and reasonable and serves the free development and equal opportunities of each person and group.

6. The school shall protect and promote the establishment of tolerance and mutual respect among pupils, parents and teachers, regardless of their social, ethnic, religious, linguistic and worldview affiliation.

7. The school, on the basis of equality, protects the individual and collective right of members of minorities to freely use their native language, to preserve and express their cultural affiliation.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2010 No. 3068 - LHG I, No. 27, 24.05.2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 - LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Article 14. Freedom of expression🔗

1. A pupil, a parent and a teacher have the right, in accordance with the procedure established by law, during school time or on the school territory, to seek, receive, create, store, process or disseminate any information and ideas, as well as to use school resources to seek, receive, create, store, process or disseminate information and ideas, taking into account the restrictions determined by the legislation of Georgia, including by this Law.

2. A pupil has the right to express his/her own opinion and to demand respect for it.

3. Encroachment on the editorial independence of school publications and censorship of books in the school library shall be inadmissible. This norm does not restrict the school from establishing non-discriminatory and neutral restrictions in order to ensure the protection of minors from the harmful influence of literature inappropriate for their age.

4. A pupil, a parent and a teacher have the right, for charitable purposes, in accordance with the established procedure, to raise voluntary donations. The school shall be obliged to take all reasonable measures to prevent the extortion of financial resources or other benefit.

5. A pupil and a teacher have the academic freedom of study, teaching and research to the extent that does not contradict the achievement of the goals set by the national curriculum.

6. A school has the right to establish a school uniform in such a way as not to restrict the freedom of expression of a pupil and a teacher. A pupil and a teacher have the right to refuse, with justification, to wear the school uniform.

7. When establishing a school uniform, the school shall take into account the financial capabilities of the pupil, and if he/she is unable to purchase the uniform, the school shall provide him/her with the uniform.

[6. A public school (at the basic and secondary levels of general education) and a private school have the right to establish school uniform clothing in such a way as not to restrict the freedom of expression of a pupil and a teacher. A pupil and a teacher have the right to refuse, with justification, to wear the school uniform clothing provided for by this paragraph.

7. When establishing the school uniform clothing provided for by paragraph 6 of this Article, the school shall take into account the financial capabilities of the pupil. If the pupil is unable to purchase the school uniform clothing, the school shall provide him/her with this clothing. (shall enter into force from 1 September 2026)]

Law of Georgia of 4 February 2026 No. 1353 – website, 05.02.2026.

Article 15. Freedom of assembly🔗

1. A pupil, a parent and a teacher have, on the basis of prior notification, the freedom of assembly on the school territory in accordance with the procedure established by law.

2. It shall be inadmissible for the school to direct or control the course of an assembly of pupils, parents and teachers against their will. The school has the right, where necessary, to attend an assembly of pupils, parents and teachers.

3. A third party has the right to attend an assembly of pupils only upon their invitation, except for cases provided for by the legislation of Georgia that are related to ensuring security on the school territory.

Law of Georgia of 28 March 2007 No. 4530 - LHG I, No. 15, 23.04.2007, Art. 119

Article 16. Freedom of association🔗

1. A pupil, a parent and a teacher have the freedom of association in accordance with the procedure established by law.

2. It shall be inadmissible for the school to interfere in the activities of an association of pupils, parents and teachers, except for cases provided for by law.

3. It shall be inadmissible for a third party to direct or control an association of pupils.

Article 17. Inviolability of private life🔗

1. The private life of a pupil, a parent and a teacher is inviolable. They may not be required to disclose information about their private life.

2. When collecting and storing the personal data of a pupil, a parent and a teacher, the school shall be obliged to be guided by the requirements of this Law and the General Administrative Code of Georgia.

3. Information about a pupil's academic performance shall be stored separately from disciplinary data.

4. The school has the right to require a pupil and a teacher to undergo medical examination for diseases, alcohol and drugs. The school shall be obliged to ensure accessibility of the relevant medical examination.

5. Arbitrary restriction of the right to inviolability of the private life and private communication of a pupil and a teacher, as well as of property in the ownership of the school that has been transferred into the personal use of a pupil and a teacher, shall be inadmissible.

Article 18. Freedom of belief🔗

1. A pupil, a parent and a teacher have, in accordance with the procedure established by law, the freedom of belief, confession and conscience, the right to voluntarily choose and change any or no belief or worldview.

2. It shall be inadmissible to impose on a pupil, a parent and a teacher the performance of such obligations as fundamentally contradict their belief, confession or conscience, if this does not infringe the rights of others, or does not hinder the attainment of the achievement level provided for by the national curriculum.

3. The placement of religious symbols on the territory of a public school shall not serve non-academic purposes.

4. Pupils of a public school have the right, in their time free from school hours, to voluntarily study religion or perform a religious ritual, if it serves the receiving of religious education.

Article 19. Discipline🔗

1. School discipline shall be protected through methods based on respect for the freedom and dignity of the pupil and the teacher.

2. The requirements established by the school's internal regulations, disciplinary prosecution and penalty shall be reasonable, substantiated and proportionate.

3. In addition to the liability measures established by the school's internal regulations and the legislation of Georgia, a warning to the pupil, a strict warning, removal from the lesson, temporary suspension from school, assignment to the pupil of an activity useful for the school, and other disciplinary penalties may be provided for. In the case of temporary suspension of a pupil from school, his/her parent shall be immediately notified. The school shall be obliged, in the case of removal of a pupil from a lesson or temporary suspension from school, to keep him/her under its curatorship.

4. Disciplinary prosecution may be carried out only in the cases provided for by the school's internal regulations and in accordance with the established procedure, with due and fair process.

5. During disciplinary prosecution, the school shall be obliged to explain to the pupil or the teacher the essence of the disciplinary misconduct committed by him/her.

6. The parent of a pupil shall be immediately notified of the application of a disciplinary penalty to the pupil, as well as of the initiation of disciplinary prosecution. The pupil has the right, when a matter concerning him/her is being decided, to appear together with the parent.

7. The school shall be obliged to take measures so that a disciplinary penalty does not cause substantial lag of the pupil from the learning process.

8. The use of a cruel disciplinary penalty or of such a disciplinary penalty as violates the honour and dignity of a person shall be inadmissible.

9. (Removed - 13.06.2018, No. 2523);

10. It shall be inadmissible for the school to conduct disciplinary prosecution of a pupil or a teacher for an act committed by him/her during time free from school time or outside the school territory.

11. A pupil and a teacher have the right, during disciplinary prosecution, to enjoy the right to silence. The right to silence does not release the pupil and the teacher from disciplinary liability.

12. The right to take a decision on removal of a pupil from a lesson shall be held by the teacher; the right to take a decision on suspension from school for a term of up to 5 days – by the school director; and the right to take a decision on suspension for a term of 5-10 days or expulsion from school – by the disciplinary committee by secret ballot.

12¹. Expulsion of a pupil from school at the primary and basic levels shall be inadmissible.

12². When assigning to a pupil an activity useful for the school, the following shall be determined: the content of the useful activity; the rules and conditions for its implementation; the place of implementation of the useful activity within the school territory; its duration, which for a pupil of the primary level shall not exceed 1 hour per day, for a pupil of the basic level – 2 hours per day, and for a pupil of the secondary level – 3 hours per day; the identity of the authorized person who will provide direct supervision over the pupil's performance of the activity useful for the school

performance of the activity. An activity beneficial to the school may be assigned to a pupil with the consent of the parent. Damage caused in the course of the performance by a pupil of an activity beneficial to the school shall be compensated in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia. In this case, the burden of proof shall be borne by the school administration.

13. Before establishing contact with a pupil during school hours or on the school territory, except for cases provided for by law, in case of urgent necessity, a police officer or another public servant shall notify the school of the purpose of the contact and the circumstances of the case, and shall contact the pupil through the school. The school shall explain to the pupil his/her rights and shall immediately notify the pupil's parent thereof, except in the case of infringement of the child's right by the parent.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 – LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 16 July 2010 No. 3442 – LHG I, No. 44, 28.07.2010, Art. 273

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3544 – LHG I, No. 46, 04.08.2010, Art. 291

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2012 No. 173 – website, 08.01.2013

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 – website, 05.01.2017

Law of Georgia of 13 June 2018 No. 2523 – website, 29.06.2018

[Article 19¹. School uniform clothing of a pupil of a public school

1. A pupil of a public school at the primary level of general education shall wear school uniform clothing.

2. Wearing school uniform clothing is mandatory for a pupil of the primary level of general education of a public school.

3. A pupil of the primary level of general education of a public school may be exempted from the obligation to wear school uniform clothing provided for by this Article on grounds of health condition, on the basis of a written agreement between the public school and the Ministry. (shall enter into force from 1 September 2026)]

Law of Georgia of 4 February 2026 No. 1353 – website, 05.02.2026

Article 20. Prohibition of violence, protection of safety and public order🔗

1. Violence in school against a student or any other person shall be inadmissible. In the case of physical and/or verbal insult, the school shall be obliged to immediately take an appropriate response in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

2. For the purpose of ensuring safety and public order in school, a student shall be obliged to comply with the lawful instructions of the school resource officer of the educational institution, or, in his/her absence, of a person authorized for that purpose designated by the school principal. The school resource officer of the educational institution, or, in his/her absence, a person authorized for that purpose designated by the school principal, shall be obliged to notify the student's parent and the school principal about the student's commission of a suspected disciplinary misconduct/offence and the measures taken against the student as a result thereof. In the case of the student's commission of a suspected offence, the school resource officer of the educational institution shall be obliged to notify the law enforcement bodies thereof.

3. For the purpose of ensuring safety and public order in school, a non-contact superficial inspection shall be permitted, the purpose of which is the detection by the school resource officer of the educational institution, or, in his/her absence, by a person authorized for that purpose designated by the school principal, of an item prohibited by the legislation of Georgia, an instrument of the student's commission of a suspected disciplinary misconduct/offence, the detection of an object bearing traces of the commission of a suspected disciplinary misconduct/offence, the detection of an item and valuables obtained through the commission of a suspected disciplinary misconduct/offence, as well as the detection of an object and document necessary for clarifying the circumstances of the commission of a suspected disciplinary misconduct/offence.

4. A non-contact superficial inspection shall be permitted only if the circumstances indicate a possible violation by the student of the school's internal regulations and/or the commission of a possible offence, and there are sufficient grounds to presume that as a result of the non-contact superficial inspection a disciplinary misconduct provided for by the school's internal regulations and/or a possible offence will be revealed.

5. A non-contact superficial inspection shall be carried out on the initiative of the school resource officer of the educational institution and/or a school employee.

6. The right to carry out a non-contact superficial inspection shall be vested in a school resource officer of the educational institution of the same sex or a person of the same sex authorized for that purpose designated by the school principal. An exception to this paragraph shall be permitted only if there is no person of the same sex as the student in the school.

7. A school employee shall also be present during a non-contact surface inspection. The conduct of a collective non-contact surface inspection shall not be permitted. The marshal of the educational institution / a person authorised for that purpose by the school principal shall be obliged to immediately notify the pupil's parent of the conduct of a non-contact surface inspection in respect of the pupil.

8. Before the conduct of a non-contact surface inspection, the marshal of the educational institution or a person authorised for that purpose by the school principal shall warn the pupil about the conduct of the non-contact surface inspection. If the pupil presents, or the marshal of the educational institution / a person authorised for that purpose by the school principal discovers, such a presumably unlawful thing/object, responding to the possession of which by the pupil is, under the legislation of Georgia, within the competence of a law enforcement body, the law enforcement body shall be immediately notified thereof. The marshal of the educational institution / a person authorised for that purpose by the school principal shall hand over the discovered thing/object to the pupil's parent or to a law enforcement body, taking into account the nature of the thing/object.

9. Taking into account the best interests of the pupil/pupils, it shall be permissible to separate the pupil/pupils in an emotionally and physically safe environment, in the presence of a person authorised for that purpose by the school principal, in the case where the act of the pupil/pupils poses a threat to the life and/or health of a person, or the pupil refuses a non-contact surface inspection and the discovery of the thing provided for by paragraph 3 of this Article is otherwise impossible, or the pupil refuses to hand over the thing provided for by paragraph 3 of this Article discovered during the conduct of the non-contact surface inspection to the marshal of the educational institution / a person authorised for that purpose by the school principal.

10. The person determined by the school principal as provided for by paragraph 9 of this Article shall be retrained in accordance with the procedure approved by the Ministry.

11. In the case provided for by paragraph 9 of this Article, the involvement of the pupil/pupils in various types of school activities may be carried out under the supervision of a teacher/school employee and/or the marshal of the educational institution. From the moment of the separation of the pupil/pupils, the measures to be implemented by the school, the marshal of the educational institution, and, where necessary, by a psychologist and/or a social worker shall serve such goals as ensuring the safety of the pupil/pupils, reducing risk and managing the behaviour of the pupil/pupils.

12. The pupil's parent shall be immediately notified of the separation of the pupil, and, in the case of the commission of a possible offence by the pupil, the law enforcement body.

13. The separation of a student/students shall be carried out in order to achieve the objectives provided for by paragraph 11 of this Article, before the appearance at school of the student's parent or of a person designated by the student's parent.

14. The right to separate a student shall be held by the mandaturi of the educational institution, and in his/her absence − by a person authorised for that purpose by the school principal.

15. When carrying out a non-contact superficial inspection/separation of a student, the mandaturi of the educational institution/person authorised for that purpose by the school principal shall explain to the student, in a language understandable to him/her, the circumstances on the basis of which the non-contact superficial inspection/separation of the student is being carried out. The mandaturi of the educational institution/person authorised for that purpose by the school principal shall draw up a record on the carrying out of the non-contact superficial inspection/separation of the student. In this record, along with other information, it shall be noted on the basis of what circumstance, for what purpose, where, under what conditions, and in whose presence and with whose participation the non-contact superficial inspection/separation of the student was carried out.

16. Ensuring security and public order on the school territory during school hours shall be carried out in accordance with the rules and conditions for ensuring security and public order in a general education institution. The following issues shall be regulated by these rules and conditions:

a) the actions to be carried out by the school, the mandaturi of the educational institution and other persons for the purpose of ensuring security and public order on the school territory during school hours;

b) the rules for equipping the school with a video surveillance system and for administering it;

c) the rules for maintaining an electronic information database of violations detected in the school;

d) the rules for carrying out a non-contact superficial inspection;

e) the rules for carrying out the separation of a student and the measures to be carried out after his/her separation by the school, the mandaturi of the educational institution and/or a psychologist;

f) the form and rules for drawing up a record on a non-contact superficial inspection, the separation of a student and the use of physical force by the mandaturi of the educational institution;

g) the rules for giving recommendations to schools on security issues by the Legal Entity of Public Law − the Mandaturi Service of Educational Institutions, as well as the rules for feedback on the actions carried out by schools in connection with these recommendations;

h) the ethics of the mandaturi of the educational institution;

i) the rules for the use of a metal detector by the mandaturi of the educational institution;

j) the rules for the distribution and rotation of mandaturis of educational institutions in schools;

k) the rules for selecting a candidate for the position of mandaturi of an educational institution;

l) other issues related to the protection of security and public order on the school territory during school hours.

17. For the purpose of protecting a person's safety and protecting a minor from harmful influence, video surveillance shall be carried out on the external and internal perimeters of the school.

18. In order to ensure the protection of public order and safety on the school territory, law enforcement bodies shall carry out actions in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 28 March 2007 No. 4530 – LHG I, No. 15, 23.04.2007, Art. 119

Law of Georgia of 13 June 2018 No. 2523 – website, 29.06.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 20¹. Obligation of a teacher to provide information🔗

A teacher shall be obliged to provide information to the relevant authorised person designated by the school director on a fact of possible commission of violence against women and/or domestic violence, if there is a danger of repeated violence.

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 773 – website, 25.05.2017

Article 21. Other rights and obligations of a teacher🔗

1. A teacher of a general education institution has the right to:

a) demand that the institution create the conditions necessary for work;

b) receive remuneration for work in accordance with the norms established by the Ministry;

c) improve qualifications, for which purpose he/she is entitled once every 6 years to request leave without pay of up to 1 year, with retention of the workplace;

d) enjoy other rights provided by the legislation of Georgia.

1¹. A teacher is obliged to:

a) provide the student with quality education;

a¹) ensure that the educational needs of a student with special educational needs are taken into account in the teaching process;

a²) facilitate the effective transition of the person/student and prepare him/her to continue studies at the next level of education and for independent life;

b) care for the student's personal development and the formation of his/her civic awareness;

c) care for his/her own professional development;

d) participate in the teacher's professional development and career advancement scheme (this obligation does not apply to an invited teacher, a foreign invited teacher and a substitute teacher, while for a private school teacher the said obligation applies only in the case directly determined by this scheme);

e) comply with the Code of Professional Ethics of Teachers;

f) fulfil the obligations provided by the legislation of Georgia and the employment contract;

g) provide the general education institution, in accordance with the rules established by the legislation of Georgia and the employment contract, with information about his/her state of health.

1². A teacher may not be a person who has been convicted of an intentionally committed crime and whose conviction has not been removed.

2. The remuneration of a teacher, in the case of a full working week, shall not be less than the minimum wage of a public servant established by the legislation of Georgia.

3. An employment contract between a general education institution and a teacher is concluded in accordance with the procedure determined by the legislation of Georgia.

4. The remuneration of a teacher increases together with the growth of the public school budget.

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 18 November 2008 No. 497 – LHG I, No. 33, 01.12.2008, Art. 211

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2018 No. 2753 – website, 19.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 20 July 2018 No. 3243 – website, 10.08.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2022 No. 2250 – website, 14.12.2022

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2023 No. 3959 – website, 25.12.2023

Article 21¹. (Removed)🔗

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2010 No. 3068 - LHG I, No. 27, 24.05.2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 - LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2012 No. 5741 - website, 05.03.2012

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Article 21². Types of teacher positions and the professional standard of a teacher🔗

1. The types of teacher positions are:

a) primary level teacher – a teacher who teaches at least one subject at the primary level in a general education institution;

b) basic/secondary level subject teacher – a teacher who teaches at least one subject at the basic and secondary levels in a general education institution;

c) subject group teacher – a teacher who teaches all subjects combined in one subject group at the basic and/or secondary level in a general education institution;

d) arts or sports subject/subject group teacher – a teacher who teaches an arts or sports subject/all subjects combined in a subject group at the relevant level in a general education institution;

e) special teacher − a person with professional knowledge, skills and the relevant qualification defined by the teacher's professional standard, who independently or together with a subject teacher teaches a student/students with special educational needs and/or works with him/her/them individually/in a group for the purpose of improving learning outcomes and developing various skills;

f) military subject/subject group teacher – a teacher of a military subject/subject group provided for by the school curriculum;

g) primary level multilingual education teacher – a teacher of a non-Georgian-language general education institution/sector who teaches one or several subjects in different languages at the primary level;

h) basic/secondary level subject/subject group multilingual education teacher – a teacher of a non-Georgian-language general education institution/sector who teaches one or several subjects in different languages at the basic and secondary levels.

2. The Ministry, upon the submission of the National Centre for Teacher Professional Development, determines the teacher's professional standard for each type of teacher. The professional standard of a military subject/subject group teacher shall be determined in agreement with the Ministry of Defence of Georgia. All teachers of a general education institution shall comply with the teacher's professional standard.

3. General education

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profession

teacher who

is

professional

education

teacher "On Professional

Education"

" of Georgia's

Law

in accordance with.

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2010 No. 2940 - LHG I, No. 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 122

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2010 No. 3068 - LHG I, No. 27, 24.05.2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 - LHG I, No. 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 - LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 12 June 2012 No. 6448 – website, 25.06.2012

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 – website, 15.12.2014.

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018.

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2018 No. 2753 – website, 19.07.2018.

Law of Georgia of 20 July 2018 No. 3243 – website, 10.08.2018.

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021.

Article 21³. Teacher education🔗

1. Teachers in the positions provided for by subparagraphs „a“–„c“ of the first paragraph of Article 21² of this Law shall meet the requirements established by the teacher's professional standard and one of the following requirements:

a) shall hold a Master of Education academic degree awarded upon completion of an integrated bachelor's-master's teacher training educational programme (indicating the right to teach the subject/subjects of the relevant level of general education);

b) shall hold a master's academic degree in the field of education (indicating the right to teach the subject/subjects of the relevant level of general education) and subject competence certified in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia;

c) shall hold a bachelor's/master's or equivalent academic degree corresponding to the subject/subject group provided for by the national curriculum and, within 2 years from the commencement of work as a teacher, shall complete a teacher training educational programme or a distance course of a teacher training educational programme;

d) shall hold a bachelor's or equivalent academic degree corresponding to the subject/subject group provided for by the national curriculum, shall have completed a teacher training educational programme within the bachelor's educational programme, and shall have subject competence certified in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia;

e) shall have the right to teach according to a document certifying higher education and subject competence certified in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia;

f) shall hold a doctoral or equivalent academic degree in a subject corresponding to the national curriculum or in the field of education;

g) shall have the right to teach according to a teacher training certificate obtained upon completion of a teacher training educational programme.

1¹. A person who has obtained a foreign language certificate issued by a legal entity in the register defined by subparagraph „gg16“ of the first paragraph of Article 26 of this Law shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirement of successfully passing the examination in a foreign language corresponding to the subject provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

2. (Deleted – 20.07.2018, No. 3243).

3. A special teacher provided for by subparagraph „e“ of the first paragraph of Article 21² of this Law shall meet the requirements established by the teacher's professional standard and one of the following requirements:

a) shall hold a Master of Education academic degree or an academic degree equivalent thereto, awarded as a result of completion of an integrated bachelor's-master's educational programme of teacher training or of a master's educational programme (indicating the right to teach the subject/subjects of the corresponding level of general education), and shall have passed the special teacher examination determined by the legislation of Georgia or shall have obtained a special teacher training certificate;

b) shall hold a Master of Education academic degree or an academic degree equivalent thereto, awarded as a result of completion of an integrated bachelor's-master's educational programme of teacher training, and shall have completed, within the framework of this programme, a special teacher training module;

c) shall hold a doctoral academic degree in special education or education sciences (the thesis shall concern inclusive education);

d) shall hold at least a bachelor's or an academic degree equivalent thereto and shall have completed a master's programme in special education or shall have obtained a special teacher training certificate;

e) shall have the right to teach according to a document certifying higher education or at least a bachelor's academic degree in psychology or an occupational therapist's academic degree and shall have passed the special teacher examination determined by the legislation of Georgia or shall have obtained a special teacher training certificate.

f) shall have passed the special teacher examination determined by the legislation of Georgia and shall have the right to teach according to a teacher training certificate obtained as a result of completion of a teacher training educational programme.

3¹. A special teacher who teaches and works with pupils with visual or hearing impairment or with multiple sensory impairment (deaf and blind) or with severe/profound intellectual and/or multiple impairment or with behavioural and emotional impairment, with special educational needs, shall meet one of the requirements established by paragraph 3 of this Article and shall have completed a specialised certification programme of teaching for pupils with visual or hearing impairment or with multiple sensory impairment (deaf and blind) or with severe/profound intellectual and/or multiple impairment or with behavioural and emotional impairment, with special educational needs.

4. A teacher in the position provided for by subparagraph „d“ of paragraph 1 of Article 21² of this Law shall meet the requirements established by the teacher's professional standard; at the same time, a teacher of an arts or sports subject/subject group shall have:

a) complete general education;

b) the relevant arts or sports higher education and/or arts or sports vocational education and shall have completed, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, a teacher training educational programme.

5. The teacher of the position provided for by subparagraph „f“ of paragraph 1 of Article 21² of this Law shall meet the requirements established by the teacher's professional standard; at the same time, the teacher of a military subject/subject group shall have:

a) complete general education;

b) relevant military education and shall have completed a teacher training educational programme in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia.

6. Teachers of the positions provided for by subparagraphs „g“ and „h“ of paragraph 1 of Article 21² of this Law shall know two languages, one of which must necessarily be the Georgian language. At the same time, they shall meet the requirements established by the teacher's professional standard and the requirement established by one of the subparagraphs of paragraph 1 of this Article.

7. (deleted – 27.11.2015, No. 4583).

8. The Ministry of Defence of Georgia is entitled to establish additional qualification requirements for the teacher of a military subject/subject group.

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 – LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 – LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2010 No. 3068 – LHG I, No. 27, 24.05.2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 – LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2012 No. 5741 – website, 05.03.2012

Law of Georgia of 12 June 2012 No. 6448 – website, 25.06.2012

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 – website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 27 November 2015 No. 4583 – website, 10.12.2015

Law of Georgia of 11 December 2015 No. 4619 – website, 22.12.2015

Law of Georgia of 20 July 2018 No. 3243 – website, 10.08.2018

Law of Georgia of 1 February 2022 No. 1353 – website, 08.02.2022

Law of Georgia of 2 November 2022 No. 1979 – website, 14.11.2022

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2022 No. 2250 – website, 14.12.2022

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2025 No. 690 – website, 26.06.2025

Article 21⁴. Teacher Candidate🔗

1. With the consent of the National Centre for Professional Development of Teachers, a general education institution shall conclude an employment contract with a teacher candidate.

2. The general education institution shall be obliged, during the teacher candidacy period, to remunerate the teacher candidate in accordance with the minimum amount and conditions of remuneration for a public school teacher.

3. A teacher candidate enjoys all the benefits and rights provided for a teacher by this Law, except for the right to participate in the elections of the public school board of trustees.

4. A person may work at a school with the status of teacher candidate for no more than 2 years. During this period, he/she must complete the teacher candidacy programme. In the event of successful completion of the teacher candidacy programme, the person shall be deemed to have satisfied the relevant requirements established for teacher education by Article 21³ of this Law.

5. The teacher candidacy programme shall be approved and administered by the National Centre for Professional Development of Teachers.

6. During the teacher candidacy period, the general education institution in which he/she teaches shall be responsible for the supervision of the teacher candidate.

7. If the teacher candidate fails to complete the teacher candidacy programme, the employment contract concluded with the general education institution shall be terminated.

8. The rules for the registration of teacher candidates and for completing the teacher candidacy period, as well as the model and the rules for issuing the document confirming completion of the teacher candidacy period, shall be approved by the Ministry.

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 – LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 18 November 2008 No. 497 – LHG I, No. 33, 01.12.2008, Art. 211

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2010 No. 2940 – LHG I, No. 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 122

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2012 No. 5741 – website, 05.03.2012

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 – website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 20 July 2018 No. 3243 – website, 10.08.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 21⁵. (removed)🔗

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 – LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 18 November 2008 No. 497 – LHG I, No. 33, 01.12.2008, Art. 211

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2010 No. 2940 – LHG I, No. 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 122

Law of Georgia of 20 December 2011 No. 5513 – website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia of 6 August 2013 No. 918 – website, 20.08.2013

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 – website, 15.12.2014

Article 21⁶. (removed)🔗

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 – LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2010 No. 2940 – LHG I, No. 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 122

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 – website, 15.12.2014

Article 21⁷. Commencement and Termination of a Teacher's Activity, Professional Development and Career Advancement of a Teacher🔗

1. The commencement and termination of a teacher's activity shall be carried out in accordance with the rules for the commencement and termination of a teacher's activity approved by the Ministry. The professional development and career advancement of a teacher shall be carried out in accordance with the scheme for the professional development and career advancement of a teacher approved by the Government of Georgia.

2. The rules for the commencement and termination of a teacher's activity and the scheme for the professional development and career advancement of a teacher shall place teachers in an equal position, regardless of race, skin colour, language, sex, religion, political and other views, national, ethnic and social affiliation, origin, property and rank status, and place of residence.

3. The aim of the scheme for the professional development and career advancement of a teacher is to train qualified personnel, raise the teacher's competence and professional development, and improve the quality of teaching and learning in order to improve student outcomes.

4. In order to achieve the aim specified in paragraph 3 of this Article, the scheme for the professional development and career advancement of a teacher shall determine:

a) the rules for involving a teacher in this scheme, the criteria for teacher assessment and the procedure for the operation of the electronic assessment system;

b) other matters of the professional development and career advancement of a teacher.

5. (Removed – 16 December 2016, No. 102).

6. The possible sources of funding for the professional development and career advancement of a teacher are:

a) funds of a general education institution, including income received from voucher funding;

b) funds of the relevant targeted programme approved by the Ministry;

c) self-funding by a teacher;

d) funding by donors;

e) other funds permitted by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 – LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2010 No. 2940 – LHG I, No. 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 122

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2011 No. 4322 – website, 22.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 – website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 – website, 05.01.2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 20 July 2018 No. 3243 – website, 10.08.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 21⁸. Registration of educational programmes for teacher professional development🔗

1. Natural and legal persons registered in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia shall have the right to implement educational programmes for teacher professional development.

2. The registration of educational programmes for teacher professional development shall be carried out by the National Centre for Teacher Professional Development.

3. The regulation and fee for the registration of educational programmes for teacher professional development shall be approved by the Minister, upon the submission of the National Centre for Teacher Professional Development.

4. The decision on the registration of an educational programme for teacher professional development shall also state the number of credits of that programme.

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 – LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 – LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 17 November 2009 No. 2079 – LHG I, No. 38, 01.12.2009, Art. 282

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2010 No. 2940 – LHG I, No. 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 122

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2010 No. 3068 – LHG I, No. 27, 24.05.2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 – LHG I, No. 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 20 July 2018 No. 3243 – website, 10.08.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 22. Financing of General Education by the State🔗

1. The State shall ensure the receipt of complete general education. State financing of a pupil's education in a general educational institution shall continue for 12 years.

2. The State shall finance instruction in a general educational institution by a voucher corresponding to the financial norm calculated per pupil. In the event of a pupil's transfer from a general educational institution to another general educational institution, the voucher shall be transferred in accordance with the procedure for issuing and transferring the voucher.

2¹. In addition to ensuring the financing provided for by paragraph 2 of this Article, the Ministry is entitled to finance a private school in accordance with the procedure and conditions approved by the Government of Georgia, within the framework of the relevant targeted programme/programmes.

3. State financing of a pupil's education from the State Budget of Georgia shall be carried out by a voucher corresponding to the financial norm calculated per pupil. The amounts of standard and increased vouchers shall be determined according to the maximum workload for the achievement level provided for by the national curriculum, in accordance with the financial capabilities of pupils in different situations, in compliance with the principle of equality in ensuring the right to education. The amount remaining after covering the current expenses of the general educational institution by the voucher may be used to cover the capital expenses of the said institution.

4. (Deleted – 29 June 2018, No. 2753).

5. Capital expenses of a public school shall be reimbursed by the State and/or the public school within the scope of its own authority.

6. A public school is entitled, on the basis of an individual administrative-legal act of the Minister, to receive additional financing from the State Budget of Georgia in the form of an increased voucher and/or within the framework of the relevant targeted programme approved by the Ministry.

6¹. The Ministry shall ensure financing of public schools founded by the Minister (including resource schools provided for by subparagraph „z7“ of Article 2 of this Law) and of the programmes/services, consulting and boarding services implemented by them.

6². The ministry authorized in the field of education in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara shall ensure financing of public schools existing in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, including the resource school provided for by subparagraph „z7.a“ of Article 2 of this Law, and boarding services.

6³. The Ministry shall ensure financing of inclusive education of public schools founded by the Minister, including specialized classes and integrated classes, which shall provide a pupil with special educational needs with appropriate human resources and programmes/services.

7. The funding provided for by this Article shall apply to a citizen of Georgia, a person holding a temporary identification certificate, a person provided for by Article 20¹³ of the Law of Georgia “On the Rules for Registration of Citizens of Georgia and Aliens Residing in Georgia, Issuance of Identity (Residence) Certificates and Passports of Citizens of Georgia”, a citizen of a foreign country (including a citizen of another state holding the status of a compatriot residing abroad), a stateless person and a person under international protection.

Law of Georgia No 2793 of 17 March 2006 - LHG I, No 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 4129 of 27 December 2006 - LHG I, No 49, 29.12.2006, Art. 372

Law of Georgia No 3440 of 16 July 2010 - LHG I, No 42, 22.07.2010, Art. 264

Law of Georgia No 3530 of 21 July 2010 - LHG I, No 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia No 4041 of 15 December 2010 - LHG I, No 75, 27.12.2010, Art. 465

Law of Georgia No 4488 of 5 April 2011 - website, 15.04.2011

Law of Georgia No 5000 of 1 July 2011 - website, 15.07.2011

Law of Georgia No 5305 of 24 November 2011 - website, 08.12.2011

Judgment of the Constitutional Court of Georgia No 2/3/540 of 12 September 2014 – website, 29.09.2014

Law of Georgia No 2822 of 28 November 2014 - website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia No 3091 of 19 February 2015 – website, 26.02.2015

Law of Georgia No 44 of 1 December 2016 - website, 15.12.2016

Law of Georgia No 102 of 16 December 2016 - website, 05.01.2017

Law of Georgia No 2479 of 6 June 2018 – website, 21.06.2018

Law of Georgia No 3025 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia No 2753 of 29 June 2018 – website, 19.07.2018

Law of Georgia No 6905 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.07.2020

Law of Georgia No 338 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia No 3663 of 15 November 2023 – website, 05.12.2023

Law of Georgia No 690 of 24 June 2025 – website, 26.06.2025

Article 22¹. (removed)🔗

Law of Georgia No 2958 of 20 April 2010 - LHG I, No 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 132

Law of Georgia No 5305 of 24 November 2011 - website, 08.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 6301 of 25 May 2012 – website, 12.06.2012

Judgment of the Constitutional Court of Georgia No 2/3/540 of 12 September 2014 – website, 29.09.2014

Law of Georgia No 3091 of 19 February 2015 – website, 26.02.2015

Article 23. Financing of additional educational and upbringing services by the Autonomous Republic of Ajara🔗

On the basis of a request of the Board of Trustees, the ministry authorized in the field of education in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara may reimburse the expenses of additional educational and upbringing services.

Law of Georgia No. 4488 of 5 April 2011 - website, 15.04.2011.

Law of Georgia No. 6905 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.07.2020.

Law of Georgia No. 690 of 24 June 2025 – website, 26.06.2025.

Article 24. Powers of the Parliament of Georgia in the field of general education🔗

The Parliament of Georgia:

a) determines the main directions of state policy and governance in the field of general education, develops the relevant legislative acts;

b) within 1 month from submission, approves the document of the national goals of general education adopted by the Government of Georgia;

c) periodically hears the Minister's report on the implementation of state policy in the field of general education, financial activity, and the implementation of national and regional programmes.

Law of Georgia No. 3025 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.07.2018.

Law of Georgia No. 338 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18.03.2021.

Article 25. Authority of the Government of Georgia in the field of general education🔗

1. State policy in the field of general education shall be implemented by the Government of Georgia.

2. The Government of Georgia:

a) within 1 month of submission by the Ministry, adopts the document of the national goals of general education and submits it to the Parliament of Georgia for approval;

b) upon submission by the Ministry, approves:

b.a) the financial norms calculated per student and the amounts of the corresponding standard and increased vouchers;

b.b) the rule and conditions of funding of a private school within the framework of the respective targeted programme/programmes;

b.c) the "Rule of awarding the National Teacher's Prize";

b.d) the targeted programme for providing school students with textbooks of a general educational institution free of charge and the targeted programme for providing school students at the primary level of general education with school uniform clothing free of charge;

c) establishes the fees for issuing the state document certifying general education for issuance under an expedited procedure and for the issuance of a duplicate;

d) upon submission by the Ministry, approves the scheme of professional development and career advancement of a teacher;

e) approves the rule and conditions of concluding a contract by the Legal Entity of Public Law − the National Centre for Educational Quality Development (hereinafter − the National Centre for Educational Quality Development) with the competent institution of a foreign country that carries out the recognition of a general educational programme recognised abroad.

3. (Removed - 20.04.2010, No. 2940).

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2010 No. 2940 - LHG I, No. 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 122

Law of Georgia of 22 March 2011 No. 4469 - website, 01.04.2011

Law of Georgia of 5 June 2012 No. 6428 – website, 05.06.2012

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 - website, 05.01.2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 20 July 2018 No. 3243 – website, 10.08.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 15 November 2023 No. 3664– website, 05.12.2023

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2023 No. 3959 – website, 25.12.2023

Law of Georgia of 4 February 2026 No. 1353 - website, 05.02.2026

Article 26. Competence of the Ministry in the field of general education🔗

1. In the field of general education, on the basis of Georgian legislation – the Constitution of Georgia, the constitutional agreement, international treaties and agreements, this Law, other laws and subordinate acts, the Ministry:

a) conducts a unified state policy in the field of general education;

b) develops and submits to the Government of Georgia the document of national goals of general education;

c) develops indicators for ensuring the quality of the general education system;

d) develops and approves the charters of the Legal Entity of Public Law – the National Centre for Teacher Professional Development, the Legal Entity of Public Law – the Mandaturi Service of the Educational Institution, and the Legal Entity of Public Law – the Education Management Information System;

d¹) upon the submission of the Legal Entity of Public Law – the Mandaturi Service of the Educational Institution, approves the rule and conditions for conducting psycho-educational assessment and counselling;

d²) (removed - 26.06.2025, No. 798);

d³) appoints and dismisses the head of the Legal Entity of Public Law – the Education Management Information System;

d⁴) approves the charter of the group of experts;

d⁵) approves the rule and conditions for the provision of boarding services;

e) in agreement with the Prime Minister of Georgia, appoints and dismisses the director of the Legal Entity of Public Law − the National Centre for Teacher Professional Development;

e¹) appoints and dismisses the head of the Legal Entity of Public Law – the Mandaturi Service of the Educational Institution;

e²) (removed - 13.06.2018, No. 2523);

e³) approves the fee for services rendered on the basis of contracts by the Legal Entity of Public Law – the Mandaturi Service of the Educational Institution;

f) develops and approves the national curriculum, promotes its introduction and piloting;

f¹) (removed - 20.09.2018, No. 3439);

f²) (removed - 08.06.2016, No. 5367);

f³) approves the rule and conditions for integrating the learning outcomes of the secondary level of general education into the secondary vocational educational programme;

f⁴) for the purpose of promoting the development of general education, conducts various studies;

g) (removed - 21.07.2010, No. 3530);

h) (removed - 21.07.2010, No. 3530);

i) approves the charter and fee for the authorisation of educational institutions;

i¹) approves the rule and conditions for the creation and administration of the general education management information system;

j) determines the construction standards of buildings and structures of general educational institutions together with the relevant sectoral ministry and agencies;

k) establishes, together with the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, the rule for the issuance and transfer of the voucher;

k¹) is entitled, in accordance with the rule and conditions approved by the Government of Georgia, to finance a private school within the framework of the relevant targeted programme/programmes;

l) takes measures for every pupil (including a pupil with special educational needs and a pupil expelled from school) to receive general education; develops the regulation on certification of education received in the form of externship; develops the regulation on transfer from a school/general education institution to another school/general education institution; develops the regulation on receiving education in an alternative form; develops the rules for the introduction, development and monitoring of inclusive education, as well as the mechanism for identification of pupils with special educational needs; approves the professional standards of specialists involved in inclusive education;

m) for the purpose of obtaining the status of a general education institution, establishes a legal entity of public law and approves its charter, and also, based on the results of registration of pupils/persons in the voluntary XII grade of the secondary level of general education, determines by an individual administrative-legal act the duration of the secondary level of general education of this legal entity; is entitled to carry out the reorganisation and liquidation of the said legal entity. In the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara, the actions provided for by this subparagraph shall be carried out by the Ministry on the basis of a submission of the ministry authorised in the field of education of the respective autonomous republic;

m¹) for the purpose of obtaining the status of a general education institution, establishes a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity of private law and approves its charter, and also, based on the results of registration of pupils/persons in the XII grade of the secondary level of general education, determines by an individual administrative-legal act the duration of the secondary level of general education of this legal entity;

m²) is entitled, taking into account the requirements to be applied to the funding, management rules, structural units, school curriculum, state control, human resources (including the director and teacher) of a general education institution, for the purpose of obtaining the status of a general education institution, to establish a legal entity of public law and approve its charter, and also to carry out its reorganisation and liquidation. In the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara, the actions provided for by this subparagraph shall be carried out by the Ministry on the basis of a submission of the ministry authorised in the field of education of the respective autonomous republic;

m³) is entitled, for the implementation of the purposes of this Law, to establish an entrepreneurial legal entity and/or a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity. An entrepreneurial legal entity and/or a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity established by the Ministry may, by decision of the Minister, also carry out such activity/project as is necessary for achieving other purposes defined for the Ministry's system by the legislation of Georgia;

n) conducts a competition for the selection of a public school principal; submits a candidate/candidates for public school principalship to the public school board of trustees for election;

n¹) ensures the holding of the first elections of the board of trustees in a newly founded and/or reorganised public school and, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, the appointment of an acting principal before the election of the principal;

o) (removed – 09.03.2011, No. 4321);

p) is entitled to dismiss the board of trustees of a public school without warning, if it unlawfully dismisses the principal, which is confirmed by the relevant judgment of the court that has entered into legal force;

q) (removed - 21.07.2010, No. 3530);

r) approves the procedure and fee for the recognition of complete general education received abroad or of general education received during the period of study and for the confirmation of the authenticity of an educational document issued in Georgia;

r¹) approves the procedure for the mobility of pupils in a general educational institution;

r²) develops and approves the procedure for the recognition of the right of a foreign national to work as a teacher;

s) approves the schedule for the conduct of national assessments;

s¹) approves the procedure for the conduct of the national school olympiad. The Ministry is entitled to establish, in relation to the national school olympiad, time limits and procedure for the submission and consideration of an administrative complaint that differ from those provided for by the General Administrative Code of Georgia;

s²) approves the procedure for the conduct of the branding of schools. The Ministry is entitled to establish, in relation to the branding of schools, time limits and procedure for the submission and consideration of an administrative complaint that differ from those provided for by the General Administrative Code of Georgia;

s³) approves the procedure for the confirmation of the learning outcomes of the secondary level of general education achieved by a vocational student within the framework of a secondary vocational educational programme in which the learning outcomes of the secondary level of general education are integrated. The Ministry is entitled, in accordance with the procedure provided for by this subparagraph, to establish time limits and procedure for the submission and consideration of an administrative complaint that differ from those provided for by the General Administrative Code of Georgia;

s⁴) approves the fee for services rendered on the basis of a contract by the Legal Entity of Public Law – Education Management Information System;

s⁵) approves the "Procedure for the Enrolment of a Pupil in a General Educational Institution and the Suspension of a Pupil's Status";

s⁶) (removed - 26.06.2025, No. 798);

t) cooperates with international organisations, foreign countries and their general educational institutions in the field of quality inspection and assurance;

u) approves the procedure and fee for the endorsement of a textbook/series for a general educational institution. The Ministry is entitled, in relation to the endorsement of a textbook/series for a general educational institution, to establish a time limit for administrative proceedings that differs from that provided for by the General Administrative Code of Georgia;

[u) (removed - 04.02.2026, No. 1353); (shall enter into force from 1 September 2028)]

u¹) is entitled, in the case provided for by the rules for granting a stamp of approval to a textbook/series for a general education institution, on the basis of the consent of the Government of Georgia, to adopt a decision on granting a stamp of approval to the textbook/series;

[u¹) (deleted - 4 February 2026, No. 1353); (shall enter into force from 1 September 2028)]

u²) (deleted - 16 March 2021, No. 338);

v) exercises state control over public schools and is responsible for the implementation of the legislation of Georgia in the field of general education. For this purpose, the Ministry is entitled to carry out a financial inspection of the said public schools in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia;

w) establishes out-of-school educational institutions in the form of a Legal Entity of Public Law or a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity of private law;

x) establishes the National Centre for Educational Quality Development;

x¹) (deleted - 26 June 2025, No. 798);

x²) establishes a Legal Entity of Public Law – the Education Management Information System;

x³) establishes a Legal Entity of Public Law/Legal Entities of Public Law – the National Centre(s) for Teachers' Professional Development;

y) establishes the procedure for holding competitive selections for the position of director and teacher of a public school, and the procedure and conditions for the election of members of the board of trustees and for the termination of their powers. The Ministry is entitled, in connection with the competitive selection for the position of director of a public school, to establish time limits and a procedure for filing and considering an administrative complaint that differ from those provided for by the General Administrative Code of Georgia;

y¹) upon the submission of the Legal Entity of Public Law – the National Centre for Teachers' Professional Development, approves:

sh1.a) (deleted - 28 November 2014, No. 2822);

sh 1.b) the professional standard of a teacher;

sh1.c) (deleted - 28 November 2014, No. 2822);

sh

1.d) the professional ethics code of a teacher;

sh1.e) (deleted - 11 July 2009, No. 1385);

sh 1.f) the procedure for the registration of applicants for the teaching profession and for completing the applicant period, as well as the model of the document confirming the completion of the applicant period and the procedure for its issuance;

sh1.g) (deleted - 28 November 2014, No. 2822);

sh1.h) (deleted - 28 November 2014, No. 2822);

sh

1.i) the code of conduct of a pupil;

sh 1.j) the code of ethics of a director;

y²) approves the procedure for conferring the title of successful teacher and for the awarding of a teacher;

z) appoints a member of the board of trustees of a public school (except for a school founded by the Ministry of Defence of Georgia) from among the staff provided for by the staffing schedule of the central apparatus of the Ministry or of the territorial bodies of the Ministry, and members of the boards of trustees of public schools located in the territories of the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara – upon the submission of the respective ministry authorised in the field of education, from among the staff provided for by the staffing schedule of its central apparatus or territorial body;

aa) establishes the minimum and maximum number of school days during the year in public schools, the minimum and maximum duration of holidays; is entitled to determine the time and duration of the end of the school year and of holidays; determines exceptional cases;

aa¹) approves the procedure for keeping the electronic journal of a general education institution;

aa²) during an epidemic/pandemic adopts decisions on the suspension, resumption and remote conduct of the educational process in general education institutions of Georgia;

aa³) takes measures for the functioning of a medical service space (office/point) in general education institutions/schools of Georgia;

aa⁴) together with the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia approves the standard of activity of medical personnel of general education institutions/schools of Georgia;

aa⁵) together with the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia approves the procedure for the functioning of a medical service space (office/point) in general education institutions/schools of Georgia;

bb) (removed - 17.03.2006, No. 2793);

cc) establishes the procedure for registration of directors of public schools and members of elective bodies;

dd) with the participation of trade unions establishes the minimum amount and conditions of remuneration of teachers of public schools, approves the mandatory conditions of employment contracts concluded by schools with a teacher;

dd¹) (removed - 28.11.2014, No. 2822);

dd²) approves the procedure for starting and terminating a teacher's activity;

ee) in cooperation with trade unions plans measures to raise the qualification of teachers;

ff) upon the presentation of the National Centre for Teacher Professional Development approves the regulation and fee for registration of educational programmes for teacher professional development;

gg) approves the form of the state document certifying general education; in agreement with the Ministry of Justice of Georgia approves the procedure for issuing the state document certifying general education;

gg¹) carries out the numbering of public schools and establishes the procedure for assigning names to them;

gg²) is entitled to establish grants and scholarships for the purpose of encouraging especially gifted pupils;

gg³) establishes the procedure for recording personal data of pupils;

gg⁴) (removed - 02.03.2007, No. 4412);

gg⁵) establishes the list of necessary documents to be submitted for enrolling a pupil in a general education institution;

gg⁶) exercises other powers conferred by the legislation of Georgia;

gg⁷) approves the procedure for disciplinary proceedings of teachers;

gg⁸) is entitled to establish the fee for services rendered/activities carried out by legal entities of public law included in the system of the Ministry;

gg⁹) is entitled, in relation to the examinations defined by normative acts of the Minister, to establish time limits and procedure for filing and reviewing an administrative complaint different from that provided for by the General Administrative Code of Georgia;

gg¹⁰) is entitled to issue a grant to a general education institution and/or a teacher for the purpose of holding educational, cultural, artistic, creative, sports and cognitive activities for pupils, and to approve the regulation of the grant competition;

gg¹¹) approves the rules and conditions for ensuring security and public order in a general education institution;

gg¹²) for the purpose of ensuring security and public order in an educational institution, cooperates with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia for the purpose of exchanging information and planning various preventive measures;

gg¹³) together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia approves the rules of coordination and information exchange between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the Ministry and the Legal Entity of Public Law − the Mandatur Service of the Educational Institution;

gg¹⁴) is entitled, in relation to appealing the results of the selection rounds of an international academic olympiad, to establish time limits and procedure for filing and reviewing an administrative complaint different from that provided for by the General Administrative Code of Georgia;

gg¹⁵) for the purpose of promoting the socialization, rehabilitation and prevention of crime of minors, in accordance with the rules approved by the Government of Georgia, cooperates with a structural unit of the Legal Entity of Public Law operating in the field of governance of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia − the National Agency for Crime Prevention, Enforcement of Non-Custodial Sentences and Probation − the Minors' Referral Centre (hereinafter − the Minors' Referral Centre);

gg¹⁶) approves the register of legal entities whose issued foreign language certificate exempts a person from the obligation to successfully pass, in that foreign language in which the Legal Entity of Public Law − the National Assessment and Examinations Centre does not conduct the said examination, the examination corresponding to the subject provided for by the legislation of Georgia. The inclusion of a relevant legal entity in the said register is carried out in accordance with the criteria defined by a normative act of the Minister;

gg¹⁷) approves the rules for managing crisis situations in a general education institution, which define the protocol for responding to violations of security and public order in a general education institution and to situations caused by acute behavioural difficulties;

gg¹⁸) approves the professional standard of a psychologist working in the field of governance of the Ministry, which is a list of professional obligations, knowledge, skills and values that the said psychologist must meet;

gg¹⁹) establishes measures for providing the students of the primary level of general education of a public school with school uniform clothing, including the sample of school uniform clothing, the price, the rule for its sale and transfer;

gg²⁰) in accordance with the standards defined by the national curriculum and/or on the basis of a monument of the category of national significance or an intangible cultural heritage monument included in the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, creates a textbook of a general education institution, ensures its printing and the supply of the said textbook to schools for the purpose of transferring it to students free of charge, for temporary use, in accordance with the targeted programme provided for by subparagraph "b.d" of paragraph 2 of Article 25 of this Law;

gg²¹) approves the price of the textbook of the general education institution created on the basis of subparagraph "gg20" of this paragraph, as well as the rules for its sale, maintenance and replacement;

gg²²) approves the general rule for the use of electronic means of communication in school.

2. For the exercise of the powers provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article, the Ministry, in accordance with the Law of Georgia "On the Structure, Powers and Rules of Activity of the Government of Georgia", creates, transforms and abolishes its own territorial bodies throughout the entire territory of Georgia, approves their statutes, appoints and dismisses the heads of these bodies and their deputies. The territorial bodies of the Ministry are financed from the State Budget of Georgia.

3. (Removed – 09.03.2011, No. 4321) .

4. The operation of subparagraphs "n", "n1" and "s5" of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not extend to a general education institution that carries out military training, while the functions provided for by subparagraphs "m", "p", "s5", "v" and "y" of the same paragraph in the said general education institution shall be performed by the Ministry of Defence of Georgia.

[4. The operation of subparagraphs "n", "n

1 " and "s

5 " of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not extend to a general education institution that carries out military training, while the functions provided for by subparagraphs "p", "s 5 ", "v" and "y" of the same paragraph in the said general education institution shall be performed by the Ministry of Defence of Georgia. (shall enter into force from 1 September 2028)]

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 14 December 2006 No. 3986 - LHG I, No. 48, 22.12.2006, Art. 353

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2006 No. 4129 - LHG I, No. 49, 29.12.2006, Art. 372

Law of Georgia of 28 March 2007 No. 4530 - LHG I, No. 15, 23.04.2007, Art. 119

Law of Georgia of 18 November 2008 No. 497 – LHG I, No. 33, 01.12.2008, Art. 211

Law of Georgia of 19 December 2008 No. 790 - LHG I, No. 40, 29.12.2008, Art. 257

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 - LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 17 November 2009 No. 2079 - LHG I, No. 38, 01.12.2009, Art. 282

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2010 No 2940 - LHG I, No 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 122

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2010 No 3068 - LHG I, No 27, 24.05.2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia of 2 July 2010 No 3292 - LHG I, No 37, 14.07.2010, Art. 223

Law of Georgia of 16 July 2010 No 3442 - LHG I, No 44, 28.07.2010, Art. 273

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No 3544 - LHG I, No 46, 04.08.2010, Art. 291

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No 3530 - LHG I, No 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No 4044 - LHG I, No 75, 27.12.2010, Art. 466

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No 4042 - LHG I, No 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 22 February 2011 No 4204 – website, 10.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2011 No 4321 – website, 22.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 3 June 2011 No 4734 - website, 22.0 6.2011

Law of Georgia of 25 November 2011 No 5349 - website, 06.12.2011

Law of Georgia of 20 December 2011 No 5511 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia of 20 December 2011 No 5513 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia of 28 December 2011 No 5666 - website, 12.01.2012

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2012 No 5741 - website, 05.03.2012

Law of Georgia of 5 June 2012 No 6428 – website, 05.06.2012

Law of Georgia of 20 March 2013 No 348 – website, 28.03.2013

Law of Georgia of 6 August 2013 No 918 - website, 20.08.2013

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 27 June 2015 No 3819 – website, 03.07.2015

Law of Georgia of 10 June 2016 No 5420 - website, 17.06.2016

Law of Georgia of 8 June 2016 No 5367 - website, 24.06.2016

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No 102 - website, 05.01.2017

Law of Georgia of 23 March 2017 No 494 - website, 27.03.2017

Law of Georgia of 13 June 2018 No 2523 - website, 29.06.2018

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2018 No 2753 – website, 19.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 20 July 2018 No 3243 – website, 10.08.2018

Law of Georgia of 20 September 2018 No 3439 – website, 05.10.2018

Law of Georgia of 20 September 2018 No 3443 – website, 09.10.2018

Law of Georgia of 8 April 2019 No 4495 – website, 11.04.2019

Law of Georgia of 19 April 2019 No 4524 – website, 24.04.2019

Law of Georgia of 29 November 2019 No 5406 – website, 10.12.2019

Law of Georgia of 12 June 2020 No 6286 – website, 15.06.2020

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2021 No 417 – website, 13.04.2021

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2022 No 1465 – website, 06.04.2022

Law of Georgia of 2 November 2022 No 1979 – website, 14.11.2022

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2022 No 2250 – website, 14.12.2022

Law of Georgia No. 3524 of 21 September 2023 – website, 12 October 2023

Law of Georgia No. 3663 of 15 November 2023 – website, 5 December 2023

Law of Georgia No. 3959 of 15 December 2023 – website, 25 December 2023

Law of Georgia No. 690 of 24 June 2025 – website, 26 June 2025

Law of Georgia No. 798 of 26 June 2025 – website, 30 June 2025

Law of Georgia No. 1353 of 4 February 2026 - website, 5 February 2026

Article 27. Powers of the ministries of Georgia in the field of general education🔗

1. In order to obtain the status of a general educational institution which, along with receiving general education, ensures specialised arts and sports training and education, the Ministry, upon the submission of the relevant sectoral ministry, establishes a Legal Entity of Public Law. The specialised arts and sports training and education beyond the National Curriculum, including at the primary and basic levels of general education, shall be financed by the relevant sectoral ministry.

1¹. In order to obtain the status of general educational institutions which, along with receiving general education, ensure specialised arts and sports training and education, the Ministry and, accordingly, the Ministry of Culture of Georgia or the Ministry of Sport of Georgia may jointly establish a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity of private law.

1². In order to obtain the status of a general educational institution which, along with receiving general education, carries out military training, the Ministry of Defence of Georgia establishes a Legal Entity of Public Law and exercises state control over it. This institution:

a) shall undergo authorisation in the manner established by the Minister;

b) shall be financed in the manner established by Article 22 of this Law, from the appropriations of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia.

[1

2. In order to obtain the status of a general educational institution which, along with receiving general education, carries out military training, the Ministry of Defence of Georgia establishes a Legal Entity of Public Law, approves its charter and exercises state control over it, and is also entitled to carry out its reorganisation and liquidation. This institution:

a) shall undergo authorisation in the manner established by the Minister;

b) shall be financed in the manner established by Article 22 of this Law, from the appropriations of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia;

c) shall conduct instruction at the basic level of general education (from grade IX) and at the secondary level (except grade XII). (shall enter into force from 1 September 2028)]

1³. The Ministry of Defence of Georgia:

a) shall develop a special educational programme for military training for the institution provided for by paragraph 1² of this Article and ensure its implementation;

b) shall appoint the director and/or military head of the institution provided for by paragraph 1² of this Article and the teachers of the military subject/subject group, who may be both military servants and civilians.

2. The implementation of military, specialised arts and sports educational programmes beyond the National Curriculum shall be supervised by the sectoral ministry in the manner provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 14 December 2006 No. 3986 - LHG I, No. 48, 22.12.2006, Art. 353

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2010 No. 3068 - LHG I, No. 27, 24.05.2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 – LHG I, No. 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 7 December 2017 No. 1631 – website, 14.12.2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 15 July 2020 No. 6905 – website, 28.07.2020

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2022 No. 1465 – website, 06.04.2022

Law of Georgia of 21 September 2023 No. 3524 – website, 12.10.2023

Law of Georgia of 30 November 2023 No. 3825 – website, 15.12.2023

Law of Georgia of 12 December 2024 No. 83 – website, 28.12.2024

Law of Georgia of 4 February 2026 No. 1353 – website, 05.02.2026

Article 28. (Removed)🔗

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 – LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 – LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 3 June 2011 No. 4734 – website, 22.06.2011

Law of Georgia of 25 November 2011 No. 5349 – website, 06.12.2011

Article 28¹. National Center for Teacher Professional Development🔗

1. The National Center for Teacher Professional Development is a Legal Entity of Public Law, whose state control is exercised by the Ministry.

2. The functions of the National Center for Teacher Professional Development are:

a) recording of teachers' personal data in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia;

b) preparation of the teacher's professional standard;

c) ensuring the preparation of the teacher's professional ethics code with the participation of teachers' associations and organisations;

d) registration of existing teacher vacancies and vacancies for teacher candidates in general education institutions;

e) development of the procedure for the registration of teacher candidates and for completing the teacher candidacy period, as well as of the model and the procedure for issuing the document confirming the completion of the teacher candidacy period;

f) (removed - 28.11.2014, No. 2822);

g) development of the scheme for the teacher's professional development and career advancement;

h) development of the regulation on the registration of educational programmes for the teacher's professional development and implementation of the registration of educational programmes for the teacher's professional development;

i) (removed - 11.07.2009, No. 1385);

j) participation in the teacher's professional development and career advancement in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia;

k) (removed - 28.11.2014, No. 2822);

k¹) development of the Code of Pupil Behaviour and the Code of Ethics for Directors;

l) exercise of other powers determined by the legislation of Georgia, including by this Law.

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 - LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2010 No. 2940 - LHG I, No. 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 122

Law of Georgia of 2 July 2010 No. 3292 - LHG I, No. 37, 14.07.2010, Art. 223

Law of Georgia of 6 August 2013 No. 918 - website, 20.08.2013

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 20 July 2018 No. 3243 – website, 10.08.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 28². (removed)🔗

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2011 No. 4321 – website, 22.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 20 December 2011 No. 5511 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 15 July 2020 No. 6905 – website, 28.07.2020

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 26 May 2025 No. 798 – website, 30.06.2025

Article 28³. Education Management Information System🔗

1. The Ministry shall create within its system a Legal Entity of Public Law – the Education Management Information System (hereinafter – the Education Management Information System) and shall exercise general management of its activities and state control over it.

2. The functions of the Education Management Information System are:

a) promotion of the development of the education system by forming a unified information-educational space in this system;

b) introduction of modern information technologies and promotion of the development of relevant infrastructure;

c) creation and introduction, in the manner established by the Ministry, of education management information systems in order to ensure the automation of processes ongoing in the education system and the collection, storage and administration of electronic data;

d) information support for management processes and production of statistics;

e) ensuring, in the manner established by Georgian legislation, of the recording of personal data of pupils, pupils' parents, students/professional students, graduates and persons employed in an educational institution;

f) administration of the General Education Management Information System; registration, in the manner established by the Ministry, in the General Education Management Information System of the powers and termination of powers of the director of a public school, the acting director, in the event of impossibility of exercise of his/her powers by the director/acting director – of his/her deputy performing his/her duties, and in the event of absence of the position of deputy director – of another employee of the public school, a member of the board of trustees;

g) organization and control of the circulation of strict accounting documents and preparation for the examination and utilization of strict accounting documents unfit for use;

h) recording of persons who, on the basis of a court conviction that has entered into legal force and/or Georgian legislation, have been deprived of the right to carry out activities in a pedagogical and educational institution;

i) development of the main indicators of the education system;

j) formation, in the manner established by Georgian legislation, of databases for issuing documents certifying complete general education and basic general education – attestats, a document certifying completion of the secondary level of general education – a certificate, and their duplicates;

k) issuance, in the manner established by the Ministry, of duplicates of documents certifying professional education;

l) exercise of other powers provided for by the statute of the Education Management Information System and by Georgian legislation.

3. The Minister shall appoint and dismiss the head of the Education Management Information System to and from office.

4. The Head of the Education Management Information System shall manage the activities of the Education Management Information System, be responsible for the fulfilment of the tasks of the Education Management Information System and exercise other powers provided for by the regulations of the Education Management Information System.

Law of Georgia No. 5511 of 20 December 2011 – website, 28 December 2011.

Law of Georgia No. 2822 of 28 November 2014 – website, 15 December 2014.

Law of Georgia No. 102 of 16 December 2016 – website, 5 January 2017.

Law of Georgia No. 3025 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11 July 2018.

Law of Georgia No. 2753 of 29 June 2018 – website, 19 July 2018.

Law of Georgia No. 3443 of 20 September 2018 – website, 9 October 2018.

Law of Georgia No. 338 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18 March 2021.

Article 29. Powers of the ministries authorized in the field of education in the territories of the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara in the field of general education🔗

1. The ministry authorized in the field of education in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia/Adjara, throughout the entire territory of the respective Autonomous Republic:

a) is the main link in the management of the general education system; in the field of general education, conducts a unified state policy;

b) ensures the implementation of the legislation of Georgia in the field of general education;

c) organizes the introduction of national curricula;

d) in accordance with the regulation approved by the Ministry, ensures the compliance of all general educational institutions with the norms established by the Ministry;

e) in the manner established by the Ministry, carries out assessments of general educational institutions;

f) submits to the Ministry for approval the charters of general educational, out-of-school educational and upbringing institutions;

g) establishes out-of-school upbringing institutions in the form of a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity of private law;

h) in the manner established by this Law and the subordinate acts in force in the field of general education, registers the powers and termination of powers of the public school director, acting director, in the event of impossibility of exercise of his powers by the director/acting director − his deputy performing his duties, and in the event of absence of the position of deputy director − another school employee, and sends the specified data to the Education Management Information System for registration. Registration of the data in the Education Management Information System causes their entry into force;

i) in the manner established by this Law, carries out financing of general education;

j) conducts a competitive selection for the position of public school director;

k) gives consent to the school director's going on leave; within the scope of discretionary powers, decides on his recall from leave;

l) submits to the Ministry for appointment a candidacy for membership in the public school's board of trustees; puts before the Ministry a proposal on his recall from the board of trustees;

m) is entitled, without warning, to dissolve the public school's board of trustees if it unlawfully dismisses the director, which is confirmed by a relevant court judgment that has entered into legal force;

n) is entitled, in the cases provided for by paragraph 3 of Article 34, paragraph 4 of Article 41 and paragraph 3 of Article 44 of this Law, in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia, to appoint and dismiss the acting director;

o) requests materials and information or studies on site the implementation by the public school of the legislation of Georgia;

p) in the manner established by the Ministry, receives the public school's report on its activities for the past year regarding the implementation of the legislation of Georgia, the educational process and financial activities;

q) exercises other powers determined by the legislation of Georgia, including by this Law.

2. The ministry authorised in the field of education in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia/Ajara shall have the right, for the exercise of the powers provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article, to create, reorganise and abolish its own territorial bodies throughout the territory of the respective Autonomous Republic, to approve the regulations of these bodies, and to appoint and dismiss their heads and deputy heads.

3. If the existence of a ministry authorised in the field of education is not provided for by the legislation of Georgia and of the respective Autonomous Republic on the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia/Ajara, the powers provided for by paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall be exercised by the Ministry in the manner established by this Law.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 – LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 14 December 2006 No. 3986 – LHG I, No. 48, 22.12.2006, Art. 353

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2006 No. 4129 – LHG I, No. 49, 29.12.2006, Art. 372

Law of Georgia of 18 November 2008 No. 497 – LHG I, No. 33, 01.12.2008, Art. 211

Law of Georgia of 19 December 2008 No. 790 – LHG I, No. 40, 29.12.2008, Art. 257

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 – LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 – LHG I, No. 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4044 – LHG I, No. 75, 27.12.2010, Art. 466

Law of Georgia of 3 June 2011 No. 4734 – website, 22.06.2011

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 – website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 – website, 05.01.2017

Law of Georgia of 26 July 2017 No. 1227 – website, 28.07.2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2018 No. 2753 – website, 19.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2025 No. 690 – website, 26.06.2025

Article 30. Repealed🔗

Law of Georgia of 14 December 2006 No. 3986 – LHG I, No. 48, 22.12.2006, Art. 353

Law of Georgia of 19 March 2008 No. 5951 – LHG I, No. 8, 28.03.2008, Art. 54

Law of Georgia of 8 June 2016 No. 5367 – website, 24.06.2016

Law of Georgia of 23 March 2017 No. 494 – website, 27.03.2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 15 July 2020 No. 6905 – website, 28.07.2020

Article 31. Organizational-Legal Form of a General Education Institution🔗

1. A general education institution/school is a Legal Entity of Public Law established on the basis of the Law of Georgia on Legal Entities of Public Law, or a legal entity of private law, entrepreneurial or non-entrepreneurial.

1¹. A legal entity of private law is entitled to carry out general education activity in the manner prescribed by legislation, without establishing another independent legal entity.

2. A general education institution ensures the provision of general education at the primary and/or basic and/or secondary level.

3. (Deleted – 21 July 2010, No. 3530).

4. (Deleted – 21 July 2010, No. 3530).

5. (Deleted – 21 July 2010, No. 3530).

6. The relevant provisions of Chapters I–IV of this Law, of this Chapter and of Chapters XI¹ and XII shall apply to a private school.

7. (Deleted – 21 July 2010, No. 3530).

8. The Ministry is entitled to establish, for the Legal Entity of Public Law provided for by subparagraph „m2“ of the first paragraph of Article 26 of this Law, management rules, structure, state control, requirements to be applied to human resources (including to the director and teacher) different from those provided for a public school by the same Law, and also to determine the financing rules and conditions different from those provided for by this Law.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 – LHG I, No. 9, 31 March 2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 28 March 2007 No. 4530 – LHG I, No. 15, 23 April 2007, Art. 119

Law of Georgia of 18 December 2009 No. 2380 – LHG I, No. 48, 29 December 2009, Art. 365

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 – LHG I, No. 47, 5 August 2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 – website, 5 January 2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11 July 2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18 March 2021

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2022 No. 1465 – website, 6 April 2022

Article 31¹. Types of General Education Institution🔗

Taking into account the financing, management rules, structural units, school curriculum, state control, and requirements to be applied to human resources (including to the director and teacher) of a general education institution, the Ministry determines the types of general education institution.

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 – website, 5 January 2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11 July 2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18 March 2021

Article 32. Authorization of a general education institution🔗

1. As a result of authorization, a legal entity acquires the status of a general education institution and it is entitled to issue a document confirming general education recognized by the state.

2. The standards of authorization of a general education institution are determined by the Regulation on Authorization of Educational Institutions.

3. The term of authorization of a general education institution is 9 years.

4. For the purposes of authorization of a general education institution, independent general education programmes are:

a) the general education programme of the primary level of general education;

b) the general education programme of the basic level of general education;

c) the general education programme of the secondary level of general education;

d) a general education programme implemented in a foreign language;

e) a general education programme implemented in different municipalities.

5. A general education institution is entitled to implement only the general education programme indicated in the authorization application, as well as the general education programme the right to implement which it acquired during the period of validity of the authorization, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

6. A general education institution is entitled, without creating an independent legal entity, to implement only a basic vocational education programme, a secondary vocational education programme, a state language training programme, a vocational training programme and/or a vocational retraining programme. A general education institution founded in the form of a legal entity of private law is also entitled, without creating an independent legal entity, to acquire the right to implement a preschool upbringing and education programme/school readiness programme.

7. For a general education institution founded by the state or with its participation, including a general education institution provided for by Article 27 of this Law, the Ministry may, by the Regulation on Authorization of Educational Institutions, determine different conditions of authorization.

8. In the case of revocation of authorization of a general education institution, the educational programme completed by the student of the general education institution as of the relevant moment shall be counted.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2006 No. 4129 - LHG I, No. 49, 29.12.2006, Art. 372

Law of Georgia of 28 March 2007 No. 4530 - LHG I, No. 15, 23.04.2007, Art. 119

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 - LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2010 No. 3068 - LHG I, No. 27, 24.05.2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 - LHG I, No. 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 20 March 2013 No. 348 – website, 28.03.2013

Law of Georgia of 19 February 2016 No. 4785 - website, 07.03.2016

Law of Georgia No. 3025 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.07.2018.

Law of Georgia No. 338 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18.03.2021.

Law of Georgia No. 1465 of 30 March 2022 – website, 06.04.2022.

Law of Georgia No. 3959 of 15 December 2023 – website, 25.12.2023.

Article 33. Obligations and Powers of a General Education Institution🔗

1. A general education institution shall:

a) provide students with education corresponding to modern requirements, based on national and universal values, and the principles of healthy living, democracy and equality;

b) create all conditions necessary for the conduct of the educational process;

b¹) promote the effective transition of a person/student;

c) comply with the National Curriculum established for the general education institution;

d) carry out general education activities using approved textbooks and/or textbooks agreed with the Ministry and corresponding to the standards defined by the National Curriculum. The procedure and deadlines for agreeing a textbook with the Ministry shall be determined by an individual administrative-legal act of the Minister;

[d) carry out general education activities using textbooks of the general education institution created by the Ministry and/or agreed with the Ministry. The procedure and deadlines for agreeing a textbook of the general education institution with the Ministry shall be determined by an individual administrative-legal act of the Minister; (shall enter into force from 1 September 2028)]

e) ensure the implementation of health protection measures together with the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia;

e¹) for the protection of students' health and their full development, ensure the creation of appropriate conditions for the functioning of a medical service space (office/point) in the general education institution/school;

f) create the opportunity to receive general education through alternative forms, taking into account the age characteristics of students, separately from other students of the corresponding level;

g) create conditions for the implementation of inclusive education;

h) not allow the teaching of non-scientific views or theories as scientific theory or fact;

i) have internal quality assurance mechanisms;

j) ensure the safety of students present on the school territory during school hours;

k) admit a teacher candidate to the school in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia;

l) in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, submit to the Legal Entity of Public Law – the National Center for Teacher Professional Development the personal data of teachers employed in the general education institution, as well as information about vacancies for teachers and teacher candidates existing at the school;

m) within the resources at its disposal, promote the professional development of teachers, including by financing or co-financing the costs of their participation in professional training programs;

n) within the framework of the system of professional orientation, counseling and career planning in formal education, ensure the implementation of measures provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

2. A general education institution is entitled to:

a) within the limits of possibility, ensure transport service for those pupils who have no means of getting to the institution and returning home independently;

b) demand the fulfilment of the requirements established by Georgian legislation and the institution's charter from the teachers, other employees, pupils and their parents of this institution;

c) (removed - 29.06.2018, No. 2753);

d) cooperate with other schools and public organizations in order to achieve the purposes of this Law;

e) ensure the creation of safe conditions for food on the territory of the general education institution/school;

f) provide pupils with a school library that is based on pluralism of opinions and ensures the pupil's all-round development, his/her assimilation of the country's identity, national and universal values and cultural diversity;

g) take measures to increase his/her remuneration in accordance with the level of the teacher's professional development;

h ) (removed - 21.07.2010, No. 3530).

3. A public school has the right, in agreement with parents, to offer pupils additional paid educational services provided for by the national curriculum, if:

a) the relevant pupil is not provided with this service by a teacher employed in the same school;

b) this service does not take the form of a lesson;

c) the relevant pupil is not provided with this service during the course of the educational process, within the framework of the compulsory workload provided for by the school curriculum.

4. A public school has the right to provide pupils with additional educational and upbringing services, including paid ones, not provided for by the national curriculum. A public school shall ensure equal accessibility of such services for all pupils of the institution.

5. The resource school provided for by subparagraph "z7.a" of Article 2 of this Law is entitled, for the purpose of promoting/supporting the process of inclusive education, to implement programmes/services, to provide consultations to other schools, pupils with special educational needs, their parents, teachers, special teachers, the administration and other employees of the resource school.

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 28 March 2007 No. 4530 - LHG I, No. 15, 23.04.2007, Art. 119

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 - LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2010 No. 2940 - LHG I, No. 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 122

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 - LHG I, No. 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 - LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 3 June 2011 No. 4734 - website, 22.06.2011

Law of Georgia of 25 November 2011 No. 5349 - website, 06.12.2011

Law of Georgia of 6 August 2013 No. 918 - website, 20.08.2013

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2018 No. 2753 – website, 19.07.2018

Law of Georgia No. 3443 of 20 September 2018 – website, 09.10.2018.

Law of Georgia No. 6905 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.07.2020.

Law of Georgia No. 338 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18.03.2021.

Law of Georgia No. 417 of 30 March 2021 – website, 13.04.2021.

Law of Georgia No. 1465 of 30 March 2022 – website, 06.04.2022.

Law of Georgia No. 2250 of 1 December 2022 – website, 14.12.2022.

Law of Georgia No. 3663 of 15 November 2023 – website, 05.12.2023.

Law of Georgia No. 1353 of 4 February 2026 – website, 05.02.2026.

Article 33¹. Restriction established for personnel🔗

1. A person convicted of a crime against sexual freedom and inviolability provided for by the Law of Georgia "On Combating Crimes Against Sexual Freedom and Inviolability" may not be employed in a general education institution, regardless of the removal or expungement of the conviction.

2. Where an employment contract with a teacher/other employee of a general education institution is terminated for violence against a pupil, the right of that person to employment in a general education institution shall be restricted. The procedure of administrative proceedings related to the restriction of the right provided for by this paragraph shall be established by the Minister.

Law of Georgia No. 5755 of 17 March 2020 – website, 23.03.2020.

Law of Georgia No. 1353 of 4 February 2026 – website, 05.02.2026.

Article 33². Rights and obligations of a private school in respect of a student🔗

1. In the event of the occurrence of a financial debt, a private school shall ensure that the student completes the current academic semester.

2. A private school is entitled to terminate the student status of a student having a financial debt after the end of the current academic semester, within a reasonable time before the start of the next academic semester, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, in order to ensure the uninterrupted mobility of the student.

3. A private school shall, immediately upon the occurrence of a financial debt, warn the student's legal representative in writing and set for him/her a reasonable time limit for the performance of the relevant obligation, as well as explain to him/her the consequences of the non-performance of this obligation.

4. A private school shall, no later than the next day after the adoption of a decision on the termination of the student's student status, notify the Ministry and the student's legal representative in writing of this decision.

5. In the case of the termination of the student's student status on the ground provided for by paragraph 2 of this Article, the private school shall transfer the student's personal file and other documentation to be submitted for his/her enrolment in another school to the student's receiving school on the next working day after the receipt of the relevant request.

6. A private school shall, in the case of the mobility of a student to another school at the wish of the student's legal representative, transfer the student's personal file and other documentation to be submitted for his/her enrolment in another school to the student's receiving school within 3 working days from the receipt of the relevant request and from the submission of an appropriate application by the student's legal representative, as well as return to the student's legal representative, within 5 working days, the tuition fee paid in advance (if any).

7. Failure by a private school to comply with paragraphs 3–6 of this Article shall be a ground for the revocation of its authorization.

8. In the case of the termination of the student's student status on the ground provided for by paragraph 2 of this Article, if he/she does not continue his/her studies in another private school, the Ministry shall, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, before the start of the next academic semester, ensure the accessibility for the student of admission to a public school in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 27 April 2021 No. 463 – website, 04.05.2021.

Article 34. Reorganisation and liquidation of a general education institution🔗

1. Reorganisation or liquidation of a public school shall be carried out by its founder:

a) if the activity of the institution is anti-constitutional;

b) if optimisation of the physical and/or human resources of the institution is necessary;

c) if the institution has essentially switched to entrepreneurial activity;

d) (removed - 11.07.2009, No. 1385);

e) in other cases provided by the legislation of Georgia.

2. Reorganisation and liquidation of a private school shall be carried out in accordance with the legislation of Georgia.

3. Reorganisation of a public school accompanied by merger/accession of public schools or division/separation of one public school, as well as liquidation of a public school, shall result in termination of the powers of the governing bodies of the reorganised and liquidated public schools. The Minister, in the reorganised public school, before the election of a director in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia, shall appoint an acting director, who, before the election of the board of trustees, shall be entitled to exercise the powers of the board of trustees, except in cases determined by the Ministry.

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2006 No. 4129 - LHG I, No. 49, 29.12.2006, Art. 372

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 - LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 34¹. Implementation in Georgia of a general education programme recognised abroad🔗

1. In Georgia, only the implementation of a general education programme recognised abroad shall be permissible where, for the recognition thereof, the National Centre for Educational Quality Enhancement has concluded a contract with a competent institution of a foreign country.

2. The procedure and conditions for the conclusion by the National Centre for Educational Quality Enhancement of the contract provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall be determined by the procedure and conditions for the conclusion, by the National Centre for Educational Quality Enhancement, of a contract with a competent institution of a foreign country that carries out the recognition of a general education programme recognised abroad, as approved by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.

3. The right to implement a general education programme recognised abroad in Georgia shall be held by a legal entity established in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, to which the requirements provided for by this Law for a general education institution shall not apply, except in the case of a direct reference in this Law to a general education programme recognised abroad and except for Chapters II and XI¹ of this Law. At the same time, the operation of Articles 9 and 21 of this Law shall extend to the legal entity defined by this paragraph, taking into account their content.

4. A document certifying education issued as a result of the completion of a general education programme recognised abroad and implemented in Georgia shall be equated with a document certifying complete general education and shall confer the right to continue studies at the next level of education; at the same time, it shall not require apostille certification or legalisation.

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 – website, 5 January 2017.

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2023 No. 3959 – website, 25 December 2023.

Article 35. Responsibility and structure🔗

1. Within the scope of its competence, the director of the public school, the respective structural unit and/or a member of the structural unit shall be responsible for the fulfilment by the public school of the national curriculum, of the legislation of Georgia in the field of general education and of individual administrative-legal acts of the Ministry, and for the purposeful spending of the teaching-educational process and of finances.

2. The structure of a general education institution includes the pedagogical council, the board of trustees, the administration, the students' self-government and the disciplinary committee. For the purpose of appealing the decisions of the disciplinary committee, the existence of an appellate committee may be provided for by the charter.

2¹. Each structural unit of the public school defined by paragraph 2 of this Article shall be responsible for the decisions taken within the scope of its competence.

3. In a general education institution which:

a) provides specialised art education and training, the existence of the position of artistic director may be provided for by the charter, the procedure for whose election/appointment and whose powers shall be determined by this Law and by the charter of the institution;

b) provides military training, the following may be provided for by the charter:

b.a) the existence of the position of military director. The procedure for his/her appointment and his/her powers shall be determined by this Law and by the charter of the said institution;

b.b) a different structure.

4. The management of a public school shall be carried out on the basis of the principle of publicity and transparency.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 - LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2010 No. 3068 - LHG I, No. 27, 24.05.2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 21 September 2023 No. 3524 – website, 12.10.2023

Article 36. Conflict of interest🔗

1. A member of the Board of Trustees may not be a member of the school administration. In the Board of Trustees, as a parent of a pupil, a person who has an employment relationship with the same school may not be a member.

2. Private legal entities that implement general education, higher and/or vocational education programmes may not use immovable property in the possession of legal entities of public law implementing these programmes.

2¹. The operation of paragraph 2 of this Article shall not apply to a legal entity of public law – a higher art/sports educational institution and a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity – a general education institution, which provide teaching of the out-of-school art/sports educational programmes defined by paragraph 5 of Article 11 of the Law of Georgia "On Higher Education".

3. The other party to a transaction (except an employment contract) concluded by a public school may not be the school principal, another member of the administration, a member of the Board of Trustees, or a close relative of these persons. For the purposes of this Law, "close relative" means a person defined by subparagraph "b" of Article 4 of the Law of Georgia "On Combating Corruption".

4. The consent of the Board of Trustees shall be mandatory for concluding an employment contract between a public school principal and his/her close relative. If a member of the Board of Trustees is a close relative of the other party to the transaction, he/she shall not participate in the voting.

5. Members of the Board of Trustees, the disciplinary committee and the appellate committee of a public school may not be close relatives of one another. An exception may be permitted, with the consent of the Ministry, in small public schools.

6. Members of the administration of a public school may not be close relatives of one another. An exception may be permitted, with the consent of the Ministry, in small public schools.

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 – LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 14 December 2007 No. 5609 – LHG I, No. 46, 24.12.2007, Art. 400

Law of Georgia of 18 November 2008 No. 497 – LHG I, No. 33, 01.12.2008, Art. 211

Law of Georgia of 18 December 2009 No. 2380 – LHG I, No. 48, 29.12.2009, Art. 365

Law of Georgia of 27 October 2015 No. 4356 – website, 11.11.2015

Law of Georgia of 21 December 2016 No. 134 – website, 28.12.2016

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 – website, 05.01.2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 30 November 2022 No. 2218 – website, 15.12.2022

Article 37. Board of Trustees🔗

1. The Board of Trustees shall consist of an equal number of representatives elected by the parents and the pedagogical council, of not fewer than 6 and not more than 12 representatives elected for 3 years, 1 representative elected by the self-government of the students of the secondary level of general education, and 1 member appointed by the Ministry, and in a general education institution that provides military training, also 1 member appointed by the Ministry of Defence of Georgia. The municipality is entitled to appoint 1 member to the Board of Trustees. The composition of the Board of Trustees may include 1 member elected by the Board of Trustees from among persons carrying out charity confirmed for the school (if any). When determining the number of members of the Board of Trustees, an exception for a small-enrolment school may be allowed with the consent of the Ministry. The members elected from among the parents to the Board of Trustees shall equally represent each level of general education existing in the school. A person may be elected as a member of the Board of Trustees only twice in succession.

1¹. The term of authority of the Board of Trustees shall be 3 years.

2. The number of members of the Board of Trustees elected from among the parents and the pedagogical council shall be determined by the school charter.

3. The Ministry shall have the right to send a representative to the Board of Trustees, who shall enjoy the right of an advisory vote.

4. The Ministry and the relevant body of the municipality shall have the right to recall their representatives from the Board of Trustees at any time.

5. The Board of Trustees shall be headed by the chairperson of the board, who convenes and chairs the board meetings. He/she represents the school in relations with the director. The chairperson of the board shall be elected in rotation from among the members elected to the board from among the parents and the pedagogical council and the representative of the municipality, for not more than their term of authority. A member of the Board of Trustees − a representative of the students' self-government − may not be elected as chairperson of the Board of Trustees.

5¹. The right to convene an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be held by not less than one third of the nominal composition of the Board of Trustees or the representative appointed by the Ministry, as provided for by subparagraph „z“ of paragraph 1 of Article 26 of this Law. In the absence of the chairperson of the Board of Trustees at an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Trustees, the Board of Trustees shall be entitled, by a majority of its nominal composition, to elect a chairperson of the meeting, who shall exercise the powers of the chairperson of the Board of Trustees at that extraordinary meeting.

6. In the event of an equal distribution of votes, the vote of the chairperson of the Board of Trustees shall be decisive.

7. The Board of Trustees shall meet at least 3 times during the academic year, at the beginning of each third.

Law of Georgia No. 5951 of 19 March 2008 – LHG I, No. 8, 28.03.2008, Art. 54

Law of Georgia No. 1385 of 11 July 2009 – LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia No. 3068 of 4 May 2010 – LHG I, No. 27, 24.05.2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia No. 3442 of 16 July 2010 – LHG I, No. 44, 28.07.2010, Art. 273

Law of Georgia No. 3025 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11 July 2018.

Law of Georgia No. 2753 of 29 June 2018 – website, 19 July 2018.

Law of Georgia No. 6905 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28 July 2020.

Law of Georgia No. 338 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18 March 2021.

Law of Georgia No. 3524 of 21 September 2023 – website, 12 October 2023.

Article 38. Functions of the Board of Trustees🔗

1. The Board of Trustees:

a) in accordance with the procedure established by Article 42 of this Law, elects the school principal by a majority of the list composition, who is registered by the Education Management Information System. This procedure shall not apply to a general education institution that provides military training;

b) upon the submission of the school principal, approves the school budget, and also approves the annual report prepared by the school principal and ensures its public availability. The budget of a general education institution that provides military training shall be approved by the Ministry of Defence of Georgia, while the draft of the said budget shall be developed by the director of that institution and the Board of Trustees;

c) upon the submission of the school principal, approves the school's internal regulations, which exhaustively determine the list of disciplinary misconducts and the disciplinary penalties provided for them, and the conditions for transfer from school;

d) expresses consent to the school curriculum developed by the pedagogical council, to the learning materials, including the list of approved textbooks selected by pedagogues to be used during the academic year;

[d) approves the school curriculum developed by the pedagogical council and the list of learning materials to be used during the academic year; (shall enter into force from 1 September 2028)]

e) monitors the spending of finances and disposal of property by the school administration;

f) is entitled, in the event of violation of the requirements provided for by the employment contract and the legislation of Georgia, to terminate the contract with the school principal;

g) keeps and records the ballots and protocols of the elections of representatives of parents and the pedagogical council in the Board of Trustees;

h) considers complaints in accordance with the procedure provided for by the school charter and takes appropriate measures;

i) is entitled, in accordance with the national curriculum, for the purpose of conducting the final examinations of the academic year, to instruct the school principal to apply to the Legal Entity of Public Law – the National Assessment and Examinations Center and to conclude the respective contract;

j) is entitled to demand that the school principal early terminate the employment contract with a teacher in the event of violation of the contract terms, commission of an act incompatible with educational activity, and in other cases provided for by legislation;

k) for the purpose of considering disciplinary misconducts, in accordance with the procedure provided for by the school charter, elects a disciplinary committee, the composition of which includes an equal number of teachers, parents and secondary level students. The Board of Trustees is entitled, in accordance with the procedure provided for by the charter, to consider itself complaints concerning decisions of the disciplinary committee or to create an appellate committee. The appellate committee and the Board of Trustees shall also consider complaints concerning decisions taken by the principal on disciplinary misconducts. It is inadmissible to convene a special composition of the disciplinary committee or the appellate committee for the purpose of considering a specific case;

l) approves the draft school charter submitted by the school principal;

m) where there is a ground for termination of the powers of a member of the Board of Trustees, adopts a decision on early termination of the powers of the member of the Board of Trustees.

2. The Board of Trustees shall adopt the decisions provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article (except for subparagraph f of paragraph 1) by a majority of the total membership, and the decision provided for by subparagraph f of paragraph 1 – by not less than two thirds of the total membership.

3. The effect of subparagraph a, subparagraph b (except for the functions related to the annual report and the second sentence of subparagraph b) and subparagraph f of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not extend to a general education institution that provides military training.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 – LHG I, No. 9, 31 March 2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 28 March 2007 No. 4530 – LHG I, No. 15, 23 April 2007, Art. 119

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 – LHG I, No. 18, 23 July 2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2010 No. 3068 – LHG I, No. 27, 24 May 2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 – LHG I, No. 76, 27 December 2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 3 June 2011 No. 4734 – website, 22 June 2011

Law of Georgia of 25 November 2011 No. 5349 – website, 6 December 2011

Law of Georgia of 6 August 2013 No. 918 – website, 20 August 2013

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 – website, 5 January 2017

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2018 No. 2753 – website, 19 July 2018

Law of Georgia of 21 September 2023 No. 3524 – website, 12 October 2023

Law of Georgia of 4 February 2026 No. 1353 – website, 5 February 2026

Article 39. Rule for electing the Board of Trustees🔗

1. Representatives of parents and of the pedagogical council, as well as a representative of the self-government of secondary-level students, shall be elected to the Board of Trustees in equal numbers.

2. The rule for electing the Board of Trustees shall be established by the Ministry. Elections to the Board of Trustees shall be held on the basis of equality, by secret ballot, in compliance with the principles of transparency and equal representation of students' parents by levels.

3. The Ministry is entitled, in connection with elections to the Board of Trustees, to establish time limits and a procedure for filing and considering an administrative complaint that differ from those provided for by the General Administrative Code of Georgia. Decisions of the Ministry relating to elections to the Board of Trustees may be appealed to a court, and their appeal shall not result in suspension of the operation of the disputed acts.

4. The results of elections to the Board of Trustees shall enter into force from the moment of their registration in accordance with the rule established by the Ministry.

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2006 No. 4129 – LHG I, No. 49, 29 December 2006, Art. 372

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 – LHG I, No. 18, 23 July 2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11 July 2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18 March 2021

Article 40. Termination of Powers of a Member of the Board of Trustees and for the Board of Trustees🔗

1. The powers of a member of the Board of Trustees shall terminate if:

a) the Pedagogical Board terminated the powers of a member of the Board of Trustees as its representative in the Board;

b) the employment relationship with the school of a member of the Board of Trustees, as a representative of the Pedagogical Board, was terminated;

c) the student whose representative the member of the Board of Trustees is considered to be was expelled/dismissed from the school, had student status suspended, or moved to the next level of general education;

c¹) a representative of the student self-government was expelled/dismissed from the school or had student status suspended;

d) (deleted - 29 June 2018, No. 2753);

e) this is required by 1/3 of the parents of students of the corresponding level of the school, according to the principle: “one student – one vote”;

f) a member of the Board of Trustees died;

g) a member of the Board of Trustees was relieved of his/her powers on the basis of a personal application;

h) a court conviction entered into force against a member of the Board of Trustees;

i) the court recognized a member of the Board of Trustees as missing without trace, declared him/her dead, or recognized him/her as a recipient of support, unless otherwise determined by a court judgment;

j) an employment relationship arose between a member of the Board of Trustees, as a parent of a pupil, and the public school;

k) a member of the Board of Trustees became a member of the administration of the public school.

2. The vacant seat of a member of the Board of Trustees shall be filled for the remaining term by that parent and/or that member of the pedagogical council who received more votes in the respective elections than the other candidates, but an insufficient number of votes to be elected to the Board.

3. The powers of the Board of Trustees shall be terminated:

a) in the event of reorganisation of a public school accompanied by merger/joining of public schools or division/separation of one public school;

a¹) upon expiry of the 3-year term of the powers of the Board of Trustees;

b) in the case provided for by subparagraph „p“ of paragraph 1 of Article 26 of this Law, by decision of the Ministry;

c) in the event of failure to perform the functions assigned to the Board of Trustees by the legislation of Georgia, by decision of the Ministry.

4. A general education institution shall be obliged to submit electronically, in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia, to the Education Management Information System the documents confirming the existence of the ground provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article.

5. A member of the Board of Trustees whose powers have been terminated

Board

of Trustees

member

shall

be restored

Board

of Trustees

member's

the authority, if

this

Article's

first

paragraph's subparagraph "g"

provided for

ground

has been revoked.

6. The authority of the Board of Trustees shall be suspended if the authority of more than half of the elected members was terminated early and there is no other candidate who received in the respective elections more votes than another candidate, but an insufficient number of votes to be elected as a member of the Board, or if this candidate at the given time no longer meets the requirements established by the legislation of Georgia for a candidate for membership of the Board of Trustees of the respective category, or if he/she has refused in writing membership of the Board of Trustees.

7. The authority of a Board of Trustees whose authority has been suspended shall be restored if, in accordance with the procedure established by the Ministry, elections of the Board of Trustees are held for the vacant seats of those members of the Board of Trustees whose authority was terminated early.

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2006 No. 4129 - LHG I, No. 49, 29.12.2006, Art. 372

Law of Georgia of 18 November 2008 No. 497 – LHG I, No. 33, 01.12.2008, Art. 211

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 - LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2011 No. 4321 – website, 22.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 20 December 2011 No. 5511 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia of 20 December 2011 No. 5513 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia of 20 March 2015 No. 3372 - website, 31.03.2015

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2018 No. 2753 – website, 19.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 41. Directorate🔗

1. The school Directorate consists of the school's director, his/her deputy/deputies and accounting.

2. A citizen of Georgia elected or appointed in accordance with this Law, who has higher education, 3 years of work experience and meets the requirements established by the legislation of Georgia, may be appointed as director. The director is elected/appointed for a term of 6 years. A person may be elected/appointed as director in one school only twice consecutively.

2¹. For the institution provided for by paragraph 1² of Article 27 of this Law:

a) The director may be a military servicemember who is appointed to and dismissed from the position by the Minister of Defence of Georgia. The rights and duties established for the director by Chapter VIII of this Law shall not apply to him/her, except for the functions provided for by Article 43 of the same Chapter;

b) The appointment and dismissal of the director, the acting director, including a deputy director performing the duties of the director, and, in the absence of the position of deputy director, of that school employee who, in the event of the impossibility of the director/acting director exercising his/her powers, will perform his/her duties, shall be registered in the Education Management Information System.

2². A director/acting director may not be a person convicted for an intentionally committed crime whose conviction has not been expunged.

3. The director/acting director shall appoint that deputy director, and, in the absence of the position of deputy director, that school employee who, in the event of the impossibility of the director/acting director exercising his/her powers, will perform the duties of the director, and shall send this data to the Education Management Information System for registration.

3¹. The director/acting director is entitled, in the event of the deputy director being on leave or on a business trip, temporary incapacity for work, or the existence of a vacant position of deputy director, to assign the performance of the duties of the director to another employee of the school.

4. The Minister is entitled, in the event of termination of the director's powers or the impossibility of the director exercising his/her powers for 60 academic days, to appoint and dismiss the acting director. Before the appointment of the acting director, the functions of the director shall be performed by the person registered in the Education Management Information System in accordance with the procedure established by paragraph 3 of this Article.

4¹. The registration in the Education Management Information System of an elected director or an appointed director/acting director causes the early termination of the powers of the deputy director/deputies.

5. The position of director is incompatible with any other remunerated activity in the same school. By way of exception, the director, if, in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, he/she has the right to carry out pedagogical activity, is entitled to pursue pedagogical activity in the manner established by legislation.

6. In a general education institution that provides specialised art education and training, the institution's artistic director may exercise the powers of the director.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 18 November 2008 No. 497 – LHG I, No. 33, 01.12.2008, Art. 211

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2010 No. 3068 - LHG I, No. 27, 24.05.2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia of 16 July 2010 No. 3442 - LHG I, No. 44, 28.07.2010, Art. 273

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2011 No. 4321 – website, 22.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 5 April 2011 No. 4488 - website, 15.04.2011

Law of Georgia of 17 June 2011 No. 4791 - website, 28.06.2011

Law of Georgia of 20 December 2011 No. 5511 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 - website, 05.01.2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 29 May 2024 No. 4204 – website, 13.06.2024

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2025 No. 690 – website, 26.06.2025

Article 42. Rule for election of the director🔗

1. The Ministry shall select a candidate for the position of director of a public school in accordance with the rule established by the Ministry, on the basis of an open competition, in compliance with the principles of transparency, equality and fair competition.

1¹. In order to ensure the holding of a competition for the position of director of a public school, the Ministry is entitled to establish a fee for participation in the competition.

2. The Board of Trustees shall elect the director from among the competition-passed candidates for the position of director submitted by the Ministry, by a majority of its full membership, by secret ballot, on the basis of free and equal elections.

2¹. Disputed acts related to the competition for the position of director shall be appealed to a court, and the appeal shall not result in the suspension of their operation.

3. If

of the position of director

candidate

Board of

Trustees

is a member, he/she

not

participates

in the voting.

4. The minutes of the election of the director by the Board of Trustees and a copy of the identity document of the elected person shall be submitted to the Education Management Information System for registration. The authority of the director shall arise from the moment of registration in the Education Management Information System. The decision of the Education Management Information System on the issue of registering the director shall be appealed to a court, and its appeal shall not result in the suspension of the operation of the disputed act.

5. The Board of Trustees shall conclude an employment contract with the elected director in accordance with the contract terms approved by the Ministry.

6. In the event of non-election/failure to elect a director by the Board of Trustees in accordance with the rule for the competition for the selection of a public school director, the Ministry is entitled to appoint a director within the scope of its discretionary authority. The Ministry's decision on the appointment of a director shall be appealed to a court, and its appeal shall not result in the suspension of the operation of the disputed act.

7. (Removed – 05.04.2011, No. 4488).

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2006 No. 4129 – LHG I, No. 49, 29.12.2006, Art. 372

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 – LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 19 December 2008 No. 790 – LHG I, No. 40, 29.12.2008, Art. 257

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 – LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 16 July 2010 No. 3442 – LHG I, No. 44, 28.07.2010, Art. 273

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2011 No. 4321 – website, 22.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 5 April 2011 No. 4488 – website, 15.04.2011

Law of Georgia of 20 December 2011 No. 5511 – website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 – website, 05.01.2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 29 June 2018 No. 2753 – website, 19.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 43. Functions of the Director🔗

1. The school director:

a) manages the school;

b) represents the school in relations with third parties, except in cases provided for by this Law and the school charter;

c) submits the school's internal regulations and the school budget to the Board of Trustees for approval;

d) develops the staffing schedule;

d¹) is entitled to establish qualification requirements for an invited teacher and a substitute teacher;

e) participates in the development of the school curriculum by the pedagogical council;

f) in accordance with the conditions and procedure approved by the Ministry, ensures the conclusion and performance of employment contracts with teachers and other school employees;

g) is entitled to terminate the employment contract with a teacher early in the event of violation of the terms of the contract, commission of an act incompatible with educational activity, or confirmation of lack of qualification in accordance with the procedure provided for by legislation;

g¹) is entitled to terminate the employment contract of a teacher who is a member of the Board of Trustees only with the consent of the Board of Trustees;

g²) goes on leave with the consent of the relevant territorial body of the Ministry, and in the territories of the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara – with the consent of the relevant ministry authorized in the field of education. The recall of the school director from leave is a discretionary authority of the relevant territorial body of the Ministry, and in the territories of the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara – a discretionary authority of the relevant ministry authorized in the field of education. The director of a school implementing military training goes on leave with the consent of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia. His recall from leave is a discretionary authority of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia;

h) submits to the school's Board of Trustees, by 10 December of each year, a report on the progress of the educational process, and within the time limits established by the legislation of Georgia – a report on financial activity;

i) is entitled to enter into transactions, including transactions concerning school property, except for those transactions for which the consent of the Board of Trustees or the body exercising control is provided for by the legislation of Georgia and the school charter;

j) considers complaints in accordance with the procedure provided for by the school charter and takes appropriate measures;

j¹) for the purpose of ensuring safety and public order in the school, cooperates with the Legal Entity of Public Law – the Mandatur Service of the Educational Institution and the Mandatur of the Educational Institution;

j²) in the event of improper performance of official duties by the Mandatur of the Educational Institution, is entitled to submit a reasoned application to the head of the Legal Entity of Public Law – the Mandatur Service of the Educational Institution;

k) supervises the teaching and educational process ongoing in the school;

k¹) is obliged to provide to the relevant authorized person designated by him information on the fact of the possible commission of violence against women and/or domestic violence, if there is a danger of repeated violence;

l) develops a draft of the school charter and submits it to the Board of Trustees for agreement, and submits the draft agreed with the Board of Trustees to the Ministry for approval;

m) in the event of an assignment by the Board of Trustees, in accordance with the national curriculum, for the purpose of conducting the final examinations of the academic year, applies to the Legal Entity of Public Law – the National Assessment and Examinations Centre and concludes the relevant contract;

m¹) performs the functions of the public school management bodies until the creation of the first Board of Trustees of a newly established and/or reorganized public school;

m²) in the manner provided by the legislation of Georgia, in the event of dismissal of the Board of Trustees, termination of its powers or impossibility of exercising its powers, as well as in the event of failure to elect the Board of Trustees, performs the functions of the Board of Trustees of the public school.

n) carries out other activities provided by the legislation of Georgia and the school charter.

2. The director, within the scope provided by the legislation of Georgia and the school charter, issues individual legal acts.

3. In a general education institution that provides military or specialized arts training and education, the charter may provide that the director exercises the powers provided by this article together with the relevant military or arts supervisor.

4. The relevant authorized person designated by the school director is obliged to provide to the police and/or other authorized bodies the information received on the basis of Article 20¹ of this Law, subparagraph „k 1“ of paragraph 1 of this article and paragraph 3 of Article 48³, which concerns the fact of the possible commission of violence against women and/or domestic violence, if there is a danger of repeated violence.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2006 No. 4129 - LHG I, No. 49, 29.12.2006, Art. 372

Law of Georgia of 28 March 2007 No. 4530 - LHG I, No. 15, 23.04.2007, Art. 119

Law of Georgia of 18 November 2008 No. 497 – LHG I, No. 33, 01.12.2008, Art. 211

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2010 No. 3068 - LHG I, No. 27, 24.05.2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia of 16 July 2010 No. 3442 - LHG I, No. 44, 28.07.2010, Art. 273

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4044 - LHG I, No. 75,27.12.2010, Art. 466

Law of Georgia of 22 March 2013 No. 387 – website, 02.04.2013

Law of Georgia of 6 August 2013 No. 918 - website, 20.08.2013

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 773 - website, 25.05.2017

Law of Georgia of 13 June 2018 No. 2523 - website, 29.06.2018

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia No. 3243 of 20 July 2018 – website, 10.08.2018

Law of Georgia No. 338 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia No. 3524 of 21 September 2023 – website, 12.10.2023

Article 44. Termination of the director's powers🔗

1. The powers of a public school director shall be terminated by the authorised body in the cases and in accordance with the procedure provided by the legislation of Georgia and/or a contract. The powers of a public school director may also be terminated, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, upon reaching the pension age. For directors appointed and elected in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, there may be no difference in the grounds and procedure for the termination of the powers of a public school director (including the employment contract with the director).

2. The director's powers shall be terminated from the moment of registration of the respective decision by the Education Management Information System.

3. Before the election of a new director or before the appointment of a director by the Ministry, the powers of the director shall be exercised by an acting director appointed by the Ministry.

4. In a general education institution that provides military training, before the appointment of a new director, the powers of the director shall be exercised by a person determined by an individual administrative-legal act of the Minister of Defence of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No. 1385 of 11 July 2009 - LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia No. 3068 of 4 May 2010 - LHG I, No. 27, 24.05.2010, Art. 187

Law of Georgia No. 3442 of 16 July 2010 - LHG I, No. 44, 28.07.2010, Art. 273

Law of Georgia No. 4321 of 9 March 2011 – website, 22.03.2011

Law of Georgia No. 4488 of 5 April 2011 - website, 15.04.2011

Law of Georgia No. 5511 of 20 December 2011 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia No. 3025 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia No. 338 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia No. 3524 of 21 September 2023 – website, 12.10.2023

Article 45. Pedagogical Council🔗

1. In the pedagogical council, all teachers and teacher candidates enjoy an equal right to vote. A meeting of the council is authorized if more than half of the council members attend it.

2. One third of the council members has the right at any time to convene a meeting of the pedagogical council and to request the hearing of their representative in the board of trustees.

3. The pedagogical council is headed by the chairperson of the council, who is elected for a term of 3 years, by a majority of the total membership. The chairperson of the pedagogical council convenes and chairs the meetings of the council.

4. Within the pedagogical council, on the matters assigned to its competence, separate working groups are created, which carry out the tasks of the council and are accountable to it.

5. The pedagogical council adopts a decision by a majority of votes, not less than one third of the total votes.

6. In a general education institution that implements specialized art education and training, the powers of the pedagogical council may be exercised by the art council. The art council is headed by the head of the art council, who is elected/appointed in the manner provided by the charter.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31 March 2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23 March 2007, Art. 76

Article 46. Functions of the Pedagogical Council🔗

The pedagogical council:

a) in accordance with the national curriculum, with the participation of the director, develops and, in agreement with the board of trustees, approves school curricula;

a¹) if necessary, in agreement with the director, approves an individual curriculum;

b) in agreement with the board of trustees, in accordance with the stages and subjects, approves teaching materials, including the list of textbooks that have been assigned a stamp, selected by pedagogues, to be used during the academic year;

[b) in agreement with the board of trustees, in accordance with the stages and subjects of general education, approves the list of teaching materials to be used during the academic year; (shall enter into force from 1 September 2028)]

b¹) elects the facilitator of the teacher's professional development;

c) elects its representatives to the board of trustees;

d) is entitled to re-elect its representative to the board of trustees early.

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 - LHG I, No. 18, 23 July 2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 - LHG I, No. 76, 27 December 2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 3 June 2011 No. 4734 - website, 22 June 2011

Law of Georgia of 25 November 2011 No. 5349 - website, 6 December 2011

Law of Georgia of 11 December 2015 No. 4619 - website, 22 December 2015

Law of Georgia of 4 February 2026 No. 1353 - website, 5 February 2026

Article 47. Student self-government🔗

1. Student self-government is a body elected in accordance with this Law and the school charter. It constitutes a structural unit of the school.

2. Students of the basic and secondary levels elect their own self-governments.

3. Elections of the student self-government shall be held on the basis of equality, by secret ballot, in compliance with the principles of transparency and equal representation of students by class.

4. The student self-government shall be headed by a chairperson elected by the self-government.

Article 48. Functions of the student self-government🔗

The student self-government:

a) develops recommendations on the school's internal regulations;

b) is entitled to submit proposals to the Board of Trustees on all matters important for the school;

c) elects its representative to the Board of Trustees;

d) participates in the disposal of the received grant in the manner established by the school charter and in accordance with the legislation of Georgia;

e) creates school clubs upon the initiative of one fifth of its members.

Article 48¹. Mandatur of an educational institution, Mandatur Service of an educational institution🔗

1. The Ministry shall, within its system, establish a Legal Entity of Public Law – the Mandatur Service of the Educational Institution (hereinafter – the Mandatur Service of the Educational Institution). The tasks of the Mandatur Service of the Educational Institution are:

a) ensuring security and public order in public schools and, to this end, cooperation with public schools;

b) ensuring security and public order, on the basis of contracts, in private-law entrepreneurial and non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entities – educational institutions;

c) ensuring security and public order, on the basis of contracts, in Legal Entities of Public Law within the system of the Ministry;

d) provision of psychosocial services to pupils, students and vocational students with psychosocial problems, behavioural and emotional disorders, special educational needs, and to their parents, as well as provision of psychological services to representatives of educational institutions and/or teachers;

e) coordination of the activities of psychologists working in the territorial bodies of the Ministry and/or in public schools and their information support;

f) participation in the planning and implementation of measures to be taken for disaster preparedness (fire, flood, earthquake and others), the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, educational campaigns against violence (including bullying) and other preventive measures;

g) determination, within its competence, of the need for various types of security-related training and their organisation;

h) giving recommendations to an educational institution on matters of ensuring security and public order in the educational institution;

h¹) facilitation/support of the inclusive education process in educational institutions;

h²) implementation/development of programmes/services and projects in the field of inclusive education;

h³) facilitation of the development of specialists/human resources working with persons with special educational needs and of the relevant methodology;

h⁴) identification, within the framework of psycho-educational assessment and counselling, of the special educational needs of a person/pupil, as well as counselling of that person, his/her parent/legal representative, educational institutions and specialists working in the field of inclusive education;

i) cooperation with the school in the process of exercising the powers provided for by this paragraph.

1¹. For the purpose of ensuring security and public order in an educational institution, the Mandatur Service of the Educational Institution shall, together with the Ministry, cooperate with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia for the purpose of exchanging information and planning various preventive measures.

2. The overall management and control of the activities of the Mandaturi Service of the educational institution shall be exercised by the Minister.

3. A citizen of Georgia with legal capacity who has no criminal record, who has reached the age of 21, has complete general education and vocational education or higher education, knows the state language, has the appropriate state of health for the performance of official duties, and has, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, completed the preparatory courses approved by a joint order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the Minister, may be appointed as a mandaturi of an educational institution. The said courses, together with other teaching components, shall take into account the patterns of the age-related development of the pupil/student, as well as the professional duties and values of the mandaturi of an educational institution, and physical training and practical components.

3¹. A mandaturi of an educational institution shall be appointed and dismissed by the head of the Mandaturi Service of the educational institution.

4. When performing official duties, a mandaturi of an educational institution shall wear an official uniform. The official uniform of a mandaturi of an educational institution shall be approved by the Minister.

5. For the purpose of providing psychosocial services to the persons provided for by subparagraph „d“ of paragraph 1 of Article 48¹ of this Law, including for their identification, biopsychosocial assessment, prevention of psychosocial problems/difficulties, psychotherapy, support for socialisation, and referral, the Mandaturi Service of the educational institution shall, in accordance with the Law of Georgia on Personal Data Protection, process personal data to the extent necessary and within the appropriate time limit for achieving the purpose defined by this paragraph.

6. For the purpose of carrying out psychoeducational assessment and counselling for the persons provided for by subparagraph „h4“ of paragraph 1 of Article 48¹ of this Law, including for their identification, assessment, counselling, prevention of educational and psychosocial problems/difficulties, facilitation of transition, and referral, the Mandaturi Service of the educational institution shall, in accordance with the Law of Georgia on Personal Data Protection, process personal data to the extent necessary and within the appropriate time limit for achieving the purpose defined by this paragraph.

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3544 – LHG I, No. 46, 04.08.2010, Art. 291

Law of Georgia of 2² February 2011 No. 4204 – website, 10.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 25 November 2011 No. 5349 – website, 06.12.2011

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2012 No. 173 – website, 08.01.2013

Law of Georgia of 13 June 2018 No. 2523 – website, 29.06.2018

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 15 November 2023 No. 3663 – website, 05.12.2023

Article 48². Head of the Mandaturi Service of an educational institution🔗

1. The Head of the Mandaturi Service of an educational institution shall be appointed and dismissed by the Minister.

2. A person with higher education shall be appointed as the Head of the Mandaturi Service of an educational institution.

3. The Head of the Mandaturi Service of an educational institution:

a) manages the activities of the Mandaturi Service of the educational institution and shall be responsible for the performance of the tasks of the Mandaturi Service of the educational institution;

b) shall ensure the timely and proper execution of the Minister's instructions;

b¹) shall, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, appoint and dismiss the mandaturi of the educational institution; shall be entitled to carry out the rotation of the mandaturis of the educational institution; shall consider the reasoned application of the school principal provided for by subparagraph „j 2“ of paragraph 1 of Article 43 of this Law and shall take the decision provided for by the legislation of Georgia;

c) shall give the mandaturis of the educational institution appropriate instructions in connection with the performance of their official duties;

d) shall submit to the Minister recommendations and a statistical report on the work performed;

d¹) shall manage and coordinate the measures to be implemented in the inclusive education and psychosocial directions;

e) shall exercise other powers provided for by the statute of the Mandaturi Service of the educational institution.

Law of Georgia No. 3544 of 21 July 2010 – LHG I, No. 46, 04.08.2010, Art. 291

Law of Georgia No. 4204 of 22 February 2011 – website, 10.03.2011

Law of Georgia No. 2523 of 13 June 2018 – website, 29.06.2018

Law of Georgia No. 3025 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia No. 338 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia No. 3663 of 15 November 2023 – website, 05.12.2023

Article 48³. Rights and duties of the mandaturi of an educational institution🔗

1. The rights and duties of the mandaturi of an educational institution are:

a) control of the educational institution and its adjacent territory;

b) suppression of offences committed and detected in the educational institution and/or its adjacent territory and informing the relevant law enforcement bodies;

c) at the request of the Board of Trustees, pedagogical council, administration, teacher, rector and academic personnel of the educational institution, interaction with pupils/students with social behaviour problems, individual interviews with them, monitoring their behaviour;

d) provision of information to pupils/students on issues related to civil defence, road traffic safety, administrative offences and criminal offences and their consequences;

e) informing the parents of pupils/students and the relevant authorised person of the educational institution about the behaviour of pupils/students with social behaviour problems;

f) during a disaster (fire, flood, earthquake, etc.), assistance for the protection and evacuation of pupils/students, persons working in the educational institution and other persons present there, as well as participation in the planning, preparation and implementation of measures to be carried out for the purpose of disaster preparedness;

f¹) participation in the planning and implementation of the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, educational campaigns against violence (including bullying) and other preventive measures;

g) acting as a mediator between opposing pupils/students, identifying a conflict situation and resolving the conflict;

h) participation in meetings with parents of pupils/students with social behaviour problems;

i) maintaining order and discipline on the territory of the educational institution independently or together with the administration of the educational institution;

j) drawing up, in respect of a violation detected in the educational institution, a violation record sheet in the educational institution in accordance with the form approved by the Ministry and submitting it to the relevant authorised person of the educational institution and the head of the mandaturi service of the educational institution;

k) creation of an electronic information database of violations detected in the educational institution;

k¹) administration of the video surveillance system of the general education institution;

k²) separation of a pupil in the cases provided for by this Law;

l) carrying out a non-contact superficial inspection with the use of a metal detector, for the purpose of detecting an item prohibited by the legislation of Georgia, a weapon of commission of a suspected disciplinary misconduct/offence, the detection of an object bearing traces of the commission of a suspected disciplinary misconduct/offence, an item and valuables obtained through the commission of a suspected disciplinary misconduct/offence, as well as the detection of an object and document that are necessary for clarifying the circumstances of the commission of a suspected disciplinary misconduct/offence;

m) (removed – 13.06.2018, No. 2523);

2. When exercising the rights and performing the duties provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article, the mandaturi of the educational institution shall cooperate with the school. At the same time, the mandaturi of the educational institution shall, upon invitation, attend the meetings of the structural units of the educational institution and express opinions on matters falling within his/her competence.

3. The mandaturi of the educational institution shall be obliged to provide information to the relevant authorised person designated by the school director on a fact of possible commission of violence against women and/or domestic violence, if there is a danger of repeated violence.

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3544 – LHG I, No. 46, 04.08.2010, Art. 291

Law of Georgia of 2² February 2011 No. 4204 – website, 10.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2012 No. 173 – website, 08.01.2013

Law of Georgia of 4 May 2017 No. 773 – website, 25.05.2017

Law of Georgia of 13 June 2018 No. 2523 – website, 29.06.2018

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 48⁴. Legal protection of the mandaturi of an educational institution🔗

1. While performing official duties, the mandaturi of the educational institution shall be protected by law. While performing official duties, compliance with his/her lawful demand shall be mandatory for all pupils.

2. No one shall have the right to interfere in the official activity of the mandaturi of the educational institution, except in cases provided by law.

3. While performing official duties, obstruction of the mandaturi of the educational institution, infringement of his/her honour and dignity, offering resistance to him/her, threat or violence against him/her, or encroachment on his/her life, health or property shall entail liability provided by the legislation of Georgia.

4. While performing official duties, the mandaturi of the educational institution shall be guided by the legislation of Georgia.

5. The mandaturi of the educational institution shall have the right to apply to a court for the protection of his/her rights and freedoms.

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3544 – LHG I, No. 46, 04.08.2010, Art. 291

Law of Georgia of 2² February 2011 No. 4204 – website, 10.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2012 No. 173 – website, 08.01.2013

Article 48⁵. Social protection of an attendant of an educational institution🔗

1. An attendant of an educational institution shall be subject to compulsory State insurance.

2. Damage caused to an attendant of an educational institution in the performance of official duties shall be fully compensated to him/her from the funds of the State Budget of Georgia, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

3. In the event of the death of an attendant of an educational institution in the performance of official duties, his/her family (heir) shall be given one-time monetary assistance of not more than GEL 15,000 from the funds of the State Budget of Georgia. The State shall reimburse the funeral expenses of an attendant of an educational institution.

4. In the event of maiming or restriction of ability of an attendant of an educational institution in the performance of official duties, he/she shall be given, according to the severity of the damage to health, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, one-time monetary assistance of not more than GEL 7,000.

5. Pension provision for an attendant of an educational institution shall be carried out in accordance with the legislation of Georgia.

6. In accordance with the legislation of Georgia, within the funds allocated from the State Budget of Georgia, additional social protection measures and benefits not provided for by this Law may be determined for an attendant of an educational institution.

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3544 – LHG I, No. 46, 04.08.2010, Art. 291

Law of Georgia of 2² February 2011 No. 4204 – website, 10.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 26 June 2025 No. 844 – website, 03.07.2025

Article 48⁶. Cases and procedure for the use of physical force by a security officer of an educational institution🔗

1. A security officer of an educational institution shall have the right to use physical force only in an extreme case, when it is impossible to perform his/her official duty by using mild measures. The physical force used shall be proportionate to the threat that has arisen.

2. Taking into account the condition established by paragraph 1 of this Article, a security officer of an educational institution shall have the right to use physical force in the following cases:

a) when suppressing an offence;

b) when the life or/and health of persons present in the educational institution and on its adjacent territory is threatened;

c) when apprehending an offender for the purpose of handing him/her over to a law enforcement body in the case provided for by the legislation of Georgia, when there are sufficient grounds to assume that this person will hide or cause harm to others.

3. When using physical force, a security officer of an educational institution shall be obliged to:

a) warn the person about the use of physical force and give him/her sufficient time to comply with his/her demands, except in the case where the delay would endanger the life and health of the security officer of the educational institution or other persons or would cause other grave consequences, or where warning the person is impossible;

b) use physical force in accordance with the nature of the threat that has arisen, taking into account that the harm caused must be minimal;

c) in any case, within 24 hours after the use of physical force, notify the Ministry thereof in writing, through the head of the security service of the educational institution;

d) not endanger the life and health of others.

4. The use of physical force against a pregnant woman or a person with disabilities shall be prohibited, except in the case where by her/his action an obvious threat is created to the life and health of the security officer of the educational institution or other persons.

5. In the case of the use of physical force against a pupil, the school principal and the pupil's parent shall be notified thereof immediately.

6. In the case of the use of physical force by a security officer of an educational institution, a record on the use of physical force by the security officer of the educational institution shall be drawn up. In this record, along with other information, the necessity of the use of physical force shall be substantiated.

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3544 - LHG I, No. 46, 04.08.2010, Art. 291

Law of Georgia of 2² February 2011 No. 4204 – website, 10.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 27 December 2012 No. 173 – website, 08.01.2013

Law of Georgia of 13 June 2018 No. 2523 - website, 29.06.2018

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 48⁷. Sending of a Minor with Challenging Behaviour to a Minors' Referral Institution🔗

1. This Chapter regulates issues related to the adoption, enforcement and review of a decision on sending a minor with challenging behaviour to a minors' referral institution.

2. The issue of the appropriateness of sending a minor to a minors' referral institution shall be considered by a group of specialists of the Minors' Referral Centre (hereinafter – the group of specialists).

3. Proceeding from the best interests of the minor, a minor from 10 to 18 years of age may be sent to a minors' referral institution for the term specified in the relevant petition of the group of specialists. This term shall not exceed the duration of one academic semester, except where the period of stay of the minor in the minors' referral institution is extended in accordance with the procedure established by Article 48⁹ of this Law.

4. It is inadmissible to consider the issue of the appropriateness of sending a minor to a minors' referral institution if, within 6 months from the consideration of this issue by the group of specialists, the minor reaches the age of 18.

5. The group of specialists shall consider the issue of the appropriateness of sending a minor to a minors' referral institution if:

a) the legal representative/actual carer of the minor refuses to conclude a contract with the Minors' Referral Centre;

b) the legal representative/actual carer of the minor refuses to continue the minor's participation in the measures provided for by the contract concluded with the Minors' Referral Centre;

c) according to the final report of the Minors' Referral Centre, the goal of another service/programme selected for the minor by the Minors' Referral Centre could not be achieved;

d) it is established by the standard of reasonable assumption that the minor has committed an intentional act provided for by the Special Part of the Criminal Code of Georgia, for which imprisonment for a term of more than 10 years or life imprisonment is provided as a punishment.

[ d) it is established by the standard of reasonable assumption that a minor who has reached the age of 14 has committed an intentional act provided for by the Special Part of the Criminal Code of Georgia, for which imprisonment for a term of more than 10 years or life imprisonment is provided as a punishment. (shall enter into force from 1 July 2026) ]

6. The group of specialists shall consider the issue of the appropriateness of sending a minor to a minors' referral institution and shall make a decision within 15 days from the relevant application, in accordance with the rules for the referral of minors.

7. When considering the issue of the expediency of sending a minor to the minors' referral institution, the group of specialists shall study the minor's individual assessment report and other documents obtained by the Minors' Referral Centre, and shall hear the author of the application to the Minors' Referral Centre, the minor himself/herself, the minor's legal representative/actual carer and the author of the minor's individual assessment report. The group of specialists may, if necessary, adopt a decision on hearing other persons.

8. After analysing the documents and other information indicated in paragraph 7 of this article, the group of specialists shall adopt a reasoned, written decision:

a) on the inexpediency of sending the minor to the minors' referral institution;

b) on the expediency of sending the minor to the minors' referral institution.

9. A decision on the expediency of sending a minor to the minors' referral institution shall be adopted only if the application of another measure is not sufficient to achieve the socialisation, rehabilitation and prevention of crime of a minor with complex behaviour.

10. The minor's legal representative/actual carer shall be notified of the decision of the group of specialists on the inexpediency of sending the minor to the minors' referral institution or on the expediency of sending the minor to the minors' referral institution. The Minors' Referral Centre shall ensure that information on the decision of the group of specialists is placed in the unified information database.

11. In the event of the adoption of a decision on the expediency of sending a minor to the minors' referral institution, the group of specialists shall, within 10 calendar days from the adoption of this decision, submit a motion to the court in accordance with the procedure established by the Administrative Procedure Code of Georgia. Submission of a motion to the court shall not be required if the minor's legal representative/actual carer agrees with the decision of the group of specialists and ensures the execution of this decision within the period indicated by the group of specialists.

12. In the event of the adoption by the group of specialists of a decision on the inexpediency of sending a minor to the minors' referral institution, that decision shall determine the issue of involving the minor in another service/programme. The decision of the group of specialists on the inexpediency of sending a minor to the minors' referral institution shall be final and shall not be subject to appeal.

13. The group of specialists shall be entitled to review the decision on the inexpediency of sending a minor to the minors' referral institution in the event of a change in the circumstances defined by subparagraphs „a“–„c“ of paragraph 5 of this article.

Law of Georgia of 28 December 2011 No. 5666 – website, 12.01.2012.

Law of Georgia No. 3025 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia No. 5406 of 29 November 2019 – website, 10.12.2019

Law of Georgia No. 1264 of 17 December 2025 – website, 25.12.2025

Article 48⁸. Enforcement of the decision on sending a minor to a juvenile referral institution🔗

1. Enforcement of the decision on sending a minor to a juvenile referral institution shall be ensured by the legal representative/actual carer of the minor, and in the event of failure by the legal representative/actual carer of the minor to enforce this decision within the time limit set by the court − by the authorised person of the juvenile referral institution, with the participation of the social worker of the Legal Entity of Public Law under state control of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia − the State Care and Assistance Agency for Victims of Trafficking and Affected Persons, on the basis of an application of the juvenile referral centre.

2. In the event of obstruction of the person executing the decision on sending a minor to a juvenile referral institution, the said person shall be entitled, for the purpose of ensuring the enforcement of this decision, to apply to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. In the event of obstruction of the enforcement of the decision on sending a minor to a juvenile referral institution, the person shall be held liable in accordance with the procedure established by the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No. 5666 of 28 December 2011 – website, 12.01.2012

Law of Georgia No. 5406 of 29 November 2019 – website, 10.12.2019

Law of Georgia No. 3663 of 15 November 2023 – website, 05.12.2023

Article 48⁹. Review of the decision on sending a minor to a juvenile referral institution🔗

1. Not later than 15 calendar days before the expiry of the term of the minor's stay in the juvenile referral institution, the authorized person of the juvenile referral institution shall, in accordance with the procedure determined by the juvenile referral centre, submit to the group of specialists information on the positive results achieved by the minor and the existing difficulties. On the basis of the information received from the juvenile referral institution and, where necessary, also of interviews with the minor and other persons, the group of specialists shall be entitled, not later than 15 calendar days from the application to it, to take a decision on the termination, change or extension of the term of the measure applied to the minor.

2. The term of the minor's stay in the juvenile referral institution shall be extended if, despite the positive results achieved by the minor, the psychosocial rehabilitation of the minor could not be fully carried out and the application of another measure will not be sufficient to achieve the socialisation, rehabilitation and prevention of crime of a minor with complex behaviour.

3. The decision on sending the minor to the juvenile referral institution shall be annulled if the stay in this institution is no longer necessary to achieve the socialisation, rehabilitation and prevention of crime of a minor with complex behaviour.

4. Where a decision is taken on the expediency of extending the term of the minor's stay in the juvenile referral institution, the group of specialists shall submit a motion to the court in accordance with the procedure established by the Administrative Procedure Code of Georgia. Submission of a motion to the court shall not be necessary if the legal representative/actual carer of the minor agrees with the decision of the group of specialists and does not hinder its enforcement.

Law of Georgia of 28 December 2011 No. 5666 – website, 12.01.2012.

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018.

Law of Georgia of 29 November 2019 No. 5406 – website, 10.12.2019.

Article 49. State control🔗

1. State control of a school shall be exercised by the Ministry, other state control bodies established by the legislation of Georgia, as well as the ministries authorised in the field of education of the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara – in the cases provided for by the legislation of Georgia, including by this Law.

2. State control implies supervision of the fulfilment by a general education institution of the requirements of the legislation of Georgia and of individual administrative-legal acts of the Ministry.

3. Before the start of the next academic year, a public school shall submit to the Ministry a report on the past year's activity regarding the fulfilment of the legislation of Georgia and the teaching process. The forms and deadlines for submitting the report shall be determined by the Ministry.

4. For the purpose of exercising the control provided for by this Law, the Ministry shall request materials and information or shall study on site the fulfilment by the school of the requirements of the legislation of Georgia and of individual administrative-legal acts of the Ministry.

5. A school shall submit the information requested by the Ministry within 15 days of the request.

6. In the event of a violation by the structural units of a public school defined by paragraph 2 of Article 35 of this Law of the requirements of the legislation of Georgia and of individual administrative-legal acts of the Ministry, the Ministry, and in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia or Adjara − the respective Ministry, shall be entitled to give the said public school a written warning and/or to apply to the public school's Board of Trustees with a respective reasoned submission on the early termination of the director's powers. The public school's Board of Trustees shall consider the issue of the early termination of the director's powers within the period indicated in the Ministry's submission, and in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia or Adjara − within the period indicated in the respective Ministry's submission.

6¹. The Board of Trustees shall be obliged to substantiate its decision if, in the case provided for by paragraph 6 of this Article, it does not terminate the powers of the school director early. The Ministry shall be entitled not to agree with the decision of the Board of Trustees and to terminate the powers of the school director early. The submission provided for by paragraph 6 of this Article shall be appealed to court by the interested party together with the final decision on the early termination of the director's powers.

6². Legal acts of the Ministry issued in connection with the matters provided for by paragraphs 6, 6¹ and 7 of this Article, and in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia or Adjara − legal acts issued by the respective Ministry, shall be appealed to court and their appeal shall not result in the suspension of the operation of the disputed acts.

7. The Ministry, and in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia or Adjara − the respective Ministry, shall be entitled to:

a) dismiss the Board of Trustees if, in a public school, the legislation of Georgia is violated due to the activity of the Board of Trustees;

b) to terminate early the powers of the director, if the public school, due to the director's activity, receives 2 written warnings within 1 year;

c) to terminate early the powers of the acting director, if the public school, due to the activity of the acting director, receives 2 written warnings within 1 year;

d) to dismiss the Board of Trustees and/or to terminate early the powers of the director/acting director, if the public school fails to eliminate the violation within the period specified in the written warning.

7¹. In the case of early termination of powers for the director/acting director in accordance with the procedure established by paragraph 7 of this Article, the Ministry, and in the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara − the respective Ministry, shall be entitled to appoint an acting director. In this case, the procedure established by paragraph 6 of Article 42 of this Law shall apply.

8. (Removed – 17.03.2006, No. 2793).

9. Under the procedures provided for by paragraphs 6, 6¹ and 7 of this Article, as well as in the case of early termination of powers by the school's Board of Trustees/Ministry in respect of the director/acting director for violation by the director/acting director of the requirements established by the employment contract, the person whose powers have been terminated shall not be entitled, for 3 years, to hold the position of director/acting director of a public school, or of deputy director, as well as any other position in the administration of a public school.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 – LHG I, No. 9, 31 March 2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 – LHG I, No. 18, 23 July 2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 2² February 2011 No. 4204 – website, 10 March 2011

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 – website, 15 December 2014

Law of Georgia of 26 July 2017 No. 1227 – website, 28 July 2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11 July 2018

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2020 No. 5777 – website, 23 March 2020

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18 March 2021

Article 50. Property of a public school🔗

1. The building of a public school and the corresponding land area are state property and shall be transferred to the school under a contract of usufruct for an indefinite term and free of charge, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

2. A public school shall dispose of the property transferred to it by the state on the basis of the consent of the Ministry, and in the territories of the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Adjara – on the basis of the consent of the respective ministry authorised in the field of education, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, except for the case provided for by paragraph 3 of this Article.

3. A public school is entitled, for the purpose of professional development of teachers, to transfer temporarily for use the school area to a person implementing an accredited educational programme for professional development of teachers.

4. A resource school provided for by subparagraph „z7.a“ of Article 2 of this Law, when performing the functions defined by paragraph 5 of Article 33 of this Law, is entitled to use the area of the resource school for the participants of the offered programmes/services and consultations, including to use the boarding part for the overnight accommodation of representatives of another city/municipality.

Law of Georgia of 26 February 2010 No. 2671 - LHG I, No. 10, 16.03.2010, Art. 36

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 - LHG I, No. 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 15 November 2023 No. 3663 – website, 05.12.2023

Article 51. Finances of a general education institution🔗

1. The main funding of a school shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure established by this Law and the respective subordinate acts by the state through the issuance of a voucher, as well as in accordance with the procedure provided for by paragraph 5 of Article 22 of this Law.

2. A public school has the right to attract other financial resources permitted by the legislation of Georgia, including to receive income from economic activity, if this activity is not dangerous to health and does not have a harmful effect on the physical and moral development of pupils. The received funds shall, in accordance with legislation, be used only for the implementation of the goals and functions of the school.

3. All income and expenses of the school shall be reflected in its budget.

4. The school has an independent bank account and a seal.

Article 52. Reporting and accounting of a general education institution🔗

1. The principal of a public school shall dispose of funds in accordance with the school budget approved by the board of trustees.

2. The principal shall be entitled, in case of urgent necessity, without the consent of the board of trustees, to transfer not more than 10% of the funds of one budget item to another item. This change shall not cause a reduction in teachers' salaries. In the event of non-approval of the school budget, the principal shall be entitled to issue funds monthly in an amount not exceeding 1/12 of the previous year's budget.

3. The consent of the board of trustees is necessary for concluding a transaction the value of which exceeds 5% of the school budget.

4. A public school shall maintain the accounting and reporting documents of financial-economic activity in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Article 52¹. Information System for the Management of General Education🔗

1. The information system for the management of general education shall reflect information on general education institutions, the relevant educational programmes, the personnel implementing the educational programme and the personal data of persons entitled to be enrolled in/have been enrolled in the educational programme (including, in cases provided for by the legislation of Georgia − data on their state of health), as well as other information determined by the legislation of Georgia.

2. The collection, storage, processing, analysis and administration of data in the information system for the management of general education by the Ministry, in compliance with the requirements of the Law of Georgia on Personal Data Protection, shall be ensured, in the established manner, by the education management information system.

3. The education management information system shall be entitled, for the purpose of performing the functions provided for by paragraph 2 of this article, to receive and use personal data existing in other legal entities of public law included in the Ministry's system.

Law of Georgia of 20 September 2018 No. 3443 – website, 09.10.2018.

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021.

Article 52². Obligations of a general education institution and the presumption of correctness of the data of the general education management information system🔗

1. A general education institution shall be obliged to enter the relevant information into the general education management information system within the period established by the legislation of Georgia.

2. Failure by a general education institution to enter the relevant information into the general education management information system in a timely manner may become grounds for the suspension of the appropriate action to be carried out on the basis of the data of the general education management information system or for refusal to carry out that action.

3. Where there is a discrepancy between the information reflected in the legal acts of a general education institution and the relevant information reflected in the general education management information system, the data of the general education management information system shall be taken into account.

4. In the cases provided for by the legislation of Georgia, forms of confirmation of the information entered into the general education management information system may be established.

Law of Georgia of 20 September 2018 No. 3443 – website, 09.10.2018.

Article 52³. Responsibility for the correctness and completeness of the information entered into the general education management information system🔗

The subject having the obligation to reflect this information in the said system shall be responsible for the correctness and completeness of the information entered into the general education management information system.

Law of Georgia of 20 September 2018 No. 3443 – website, 09.10.2018.

Article 53. Declaration of normative acts as invalid in connection with the adoption of the Law🔗

1. In connection with the adoption of this Law, the following shall be considered invalid in the Law of Georgia of 27 June 1997 "On Education": paragraph 5 of Article 4; paragraph 2 of Article 11; paragraph 2 of Article 14; subparagraphs "n", "o", "p" and "r" of paragraph 4 of Article 18; subparagraphs "j", "k" and "m" of Article 20; Article 21; paragraph 2 of Article 22; subparagraphs "a.b", "a.c" and "a.d" of paragraph 3 of Article 23; paragraph 5 of Article 24; paragraph 3 of Article 29; paragraph 3 of Article 40; paragraphs 4 and 5 of Article 44, as well as all those norms of the said Law which regulate, differently from this Law, the relations governed by this Law.

2. Order No. 16 of 25 February 2003 of the Minister of Education of Georgia "On the approval of the standard regulation of state general education institutions and accompanying measures" and all those normative acts or parts thereof adopted by state administration bodies in accordance with the Law of Georgia "On Normative Acts" which regulate, differently from this Law, the relations governed by this Law shall be considered invalid.

Article 54. Drafts of preparatory legal acts🔗

1. The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall, before the beginning of the 2007-2008 academic year, prepare the draft laws "On Upbringing Activity", "On Vocational Education" and "On Accreditation of Educational Institutions and Programmes".

2. (Removed - 14.12.2006, No. 3986).

3. (Removed - 14.12.2006, No. 3986).

4. The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall, by 2015, ensure the approval of the rules of disciplinary proceedings for teachers.

5. The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall, before 1 October 2010, ensure the adoption of the normative act provided for by subparagraph "s1" of paragraph 1 of Article 26 of this Law.

Law of Georgia of 14 December 2006 No. 3986 - LHG I, No. 48, 22.12.2006, Art. 353

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2010 No. 2940 - LHG I, No. 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 122

Law of Georgia of 2 July 2010 No. 3292 - LHG I, No. 37, 14.07.2010, Art. 223

Article 55. Upbringing and educational-upbringing institutions🔗

1. Upbringing and educational-upbringing institutions may exist in the form of a private or public law legal entity.

2. The Ministry establishes upbringing and educational-upbringing institutions in the form of a legal entity of public law, approves their charters, exercises state control over them, their reorganisation and liquidation, appoints and dismisses the heads of these institutions.

3. Upbringing and educational-upbringing institutions, except for early and pre-school upbringing and education institutions which are legal entities of public law, are financed from the state budget and/or other revenues permitted by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 8 June 2016 No. 5367 - website, 24.06.2016

Law of Georgia of 23 March 2017 No. 494 - website, 27.03.2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 56. Out-of-school artistic and sports institutions🔗

1. Out-of-school artistic educational institutions that implement only artistic educational programmes without a general education programme shall be founded, in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia, in the form of a Legal Entity of Public Law or a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity of private law by the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, which approves their charters, exercises state control over them, their reorganisation and liquidation, appoints and dismisses the heads of these institutions.

1¹. Out-of-school sports educational institutions that implement only sports educational programmes without a general education programme shall be founded, in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia, in the form of a Legal Entity of Public Law or a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity of private law by the Ministry of Sports of Georgia, which approves their charters, exercises state control over them, their reorganisation and liquidation, appoints and dismisses the heads of these institutions.

2. (removed – 07.12.2017, No. 1631).

3. An out-of-school artistic or sports educational institution that, in the administrative territory of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, implements only an artistic or sports educational programme without a general education programme shall be founded, in the form of a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity of private law, by the ministry authorised in the relevant field in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, which approves the charter of this institution and also appoints and dismisses its head.

4. A municipality is entitled to found, in the form of a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity of private law, out-of-school artistic and sports educational institutions that implement only artistic and sports educational programmes without a general education programme. The executive body of the municipality approves the charter of this institution, appoints and dismisses its head.

Law of Georgia of 28 October 2005 No. 2014 – LHG I, No. 47, 21.11.2005, Art. 314

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 – LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 14 December 2006 No. 3986 – LHG I, No. 48, 22.12.2006, Art. 353

Law of Georgia of 26 October 2010 No. 3744 – LHG I, No. 62, 05.11.2010, Art. 384

Law of Georgia of 7 December 2017 No. 1631 – website, 14.12.2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 15 July 2020 No. 6905 – website, 28.07.2020

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 30 November 2023 No. 3825 – website, 15.12.2023

Law of Georgia of 12 December 2024 No. 83 – website, 28.12.2024

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2025 No. 690 – website, 26.06.2025

Article 56¹. Teacher of an out-of-school arts or sports educational institution🔗

1. (Removed - 28.11.2014, No. 2822).

2. A teacher of an out-of-school arts or sports educational institution shall carry out professional development and career advancement in accordance with the scheme for teacher professional development and career advancement approved by the Government of Georgia.

3. (Removed - 28.11.2014, No. 2822).

4. Out-of-school arts and sports educational institutions shall, in relation to the teacher's activity, fulfil the obligations defined by subparagraphs „k“, „l“ and „m“ of paragraph 1 of Article 33 of this Law and shall exercise the authority conferred by subparagraph „g“ of paragraph 2 of the said Article.

5. In order to define the conditions and rules for directing the activity of teachers of an out-of-school arts or sports educational institution, the Ministry of Culture of Georgia and the Ministry of Sport of Georgia shall participate in the development of that part of the regulation on the registration of teacher professional development programmes which concerns the professional development programmes of teachers of out-of-school arts or out-of-school sports educational institutions, respectively.

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 7 December 2017 No. 1631 – website, 14.12.2017

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 20 July 2018 No. 3243 – website, 10.08.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 30 November 2023 No. 3825 – website, 15.12.2023

Law of Georgia of 12 December 2024 No. 83 - website, 28.12.2024

Article 57. Secondary vocational education institutions🔗

1. A secondary vocational education institution may exist in the form of a legal entity of public or private law: a) before the beginning of the 2008-2009 academic year, if before the beginning of the 2006-2007 academic year the duration of the secondary vocational educational programmes implemented by it, excluding general educational programmes, was 2 years; b) before the beginning of the 2009-2010 academic year, if before the beginning of the 2006-2007 academic year the duration of the secondary vocational educational programmes implemented by it, excluding general educational programmes, was 3 years.

1¹. A legal entity of private law shall be entitled, in compliance with the time limits specified in subparagraphs “a” and “b” of the first paragraph of this article, to carry out vocational educational activities in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, without creating another independent legal entity.

1². From the 2007-2008 academic year, secondary vocational educational institutions shall not have the right to admit students to the first year of a secondary vocational educational programme.

2. The Ministry shall establish a secondary vocational education institution in the form of a legal entity of public law, approve its charter, and exercise state control over it, as well as carry out its reorganisation and liquidation.

3. A sectoral ministry shall establish, in the form of a legal entity of public law, a secondary vocational education institution that provides vocational arts and sports education and training; it shall approve its charter, appoint its director, and exercise state control over it, as well as carry out its reorganisation and liquidation.

4. A secondary vocational education institution that is a legal entity of public law shall be financed from the central budget, local budget and/or other income permitted by legislation.

5. Secondary vocational education may be received after receiving basic education. A legal entity of public law, as well as a legal entity of private law founded with 100% state participation – secondary vocational educational institutions which, until the end of the 2005-2006 academic year, implemented general educational programmes, shall be entitled to issue a document certifying general education to those students who, until the end of the 2005-2006 academic year, completed general educational programmes and studied at a secondary vocational educational institution for at least 2 years. Until the completion of the 2005-2006 academic year, general educational programmes in these institutions shall be financed within the framework of programme financing.

5¹. Licensed legal entities of private law – secondary vocational educational institutions, in addition to the diploma certifying secondary vocational education, shall issue a document certifying education at the corresponding level of general education to confirm the completion of a general educational programme, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

6. Secondary vocational education institutions shall be subject to accreditation. The rules and conditions of their accreditation and the standards for secondary vocational education institutions shall be established by the Ministry in agreement with the respective sectoral ministry, on the basis of a submission by the State Accreditation Service.

7. Within the framework of secondary vocational education, the general education programme shall be financed in accordance with the procedure established by this Law, while vocational education proper shall be financed from the central budget and/or from other revenues permitted by legislation.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2006 No. 2793 - LHG I, No. 9, 31.03.2006, Art. 65

Law of Georgia of 28 March 2007 No. 4530 - LHG I, No. 15, 23.04.2007, Art. 119

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Article 58. Ensuring the establishment of general education institutions in the form of legal entities of public law🔗

1. By 1 August 2005, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall ensure the establishment of general education institutions of Georgia in the form of legal entities of public law, as well as the approval of new charters of existing legal entities of public law in accordance with this Law.

2. The norms applicable to a legal entity of public law shall extend to those educational, upbringing and educational-upbringing institutions which are not legal entities of public or private law and are financed from the State budget.

3. For the institutions provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall approve a uniform model charter, in accordance with which these institutions shall be established. The Ministry of Education and Science shall publish the model charter and, accordingly, the list of established general education institutions.

4. The Ministries of Education and Science, Economic Development, Justice and Finance of Georgia shall, within 1 month from the adoption of this Law, submit to the Government of Georgia a plan for the financial and legal support of the measures necessary for the establishment of general education institutions of Georgia in the form of legal entities of public law.

5. Paragraph 4 of Article 5 of this Law shall enter into force in stages, not later than the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year.

6. This

of the Law 36th

Article

paragraph 2

shall enter into force from the beginning of the 2011–2012 academic

year

.

7. Subparagraph "m1" of paragraph 1 of Article 26, paragraph 1¹ of Article 27 and subparagraph "g" of paragraph 1 of Article 29 of this Law shall enter into force from the beginning of the 2011-2012 academic year.

Law of Georgia of 14 December 2006 No. 3986 - LHG I, No. 48, 22.12.2006, Art. 353

Law of Georgia of 14 December 2007 No. 5609 - LHG I, No. 46, 24.12.2007, Art. 400

Law of Georgia of 18 November 2008 No. 497 – LHG I, No. 33, 01.12.2008, Art. 211

Law of Georgia of 30 March 2022 No. 1465 – website, 06.04.2022

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2025 No. 690 – website, 26.06.2025

Article 59. Ensuring the holding of the first elections of the governing bodies of a general education institution🔗

1. The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall ensure the holding of the first elections of the boards of trustees of public schools before the end of the 2006-2007 academic year. The first elections may be held only in accordance with the schedule and procedure approved by the Ministry of Education and Science.

2. The entry into force of this Law shall be grounds for dismissal of the head (director) of every legal entity of public law that implements at least one stage of a general education programme, as well as of that out-of-school institution that implements only arts and sports educational programmes without a general education programme, which shall be formalized by order of the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, and in the case of out-of-school arts and sports institutions – by order of the Minister of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sports of Georgia. In accordance with this Law, before the election of a director, the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia shall appoint and dismiss, by order, the acting director, and the acting head (director) of an out-of-school institution provided for by Article 56 of this Law shall, before the beginning of the 2006-2007 academic year, be appointed and dismissed, by order, by the Minister of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sports.

3. The entry into force of this Law shall result in the termination of the powers of the members of the board of trustees existing in a public school.

4. The registration with the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia of a director elected for the first time on the basis of this Law shall result in the termination of the powers of the acting director of this general education institution and of the officials of the administration/directorate.

5. A director elected for the first time shall, within 1 month from registration, ensure the conclusion of employment contracts with all teachers of this general education institution.

5¹. Legal entities of public law founded/reorganized by the Ministry before 1 January 2014 – general education institutions – shall be entitled, before the beginning of the 2030-2031 academic year, to carry out general education activities as general education institutions/schools and to receive the funding provided for by this Law. Before the beginning of the 2030-2031 academic year, the Ministry shall ensure the phased authorization of these general education institutions.

5². General education institutions founded by the Ministry for the purpose of obtaining the status of a general education institution as a result of the reorganisation/division of a Legal Entity of Public Law − a general education institution shall be entitled, before the start of the 2030-2031 academic year, to carry out general education activities as general education institutions/schools and to receive the funding provided for by this Law. Before the start of the 2030-2031 academic year, the Ministry shall ensure the phased authorisation of these general education institutions.

6. Legal entities of private law licensed before 1 September 2010 – general education institutions – shall be entitled, before the start of the 2015–2016 academic year, to carry out general education activities as general education institutions/schools and to receive the funding provided for by this Law. Before the start of the 2015–2016 academic year, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall ensure the phased authorisation of these general education institutions.

6¹. The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall, before 1 May 2011, establish the stages of authorisation of the general education institutions referred to in paragraph 6 of this Article.

7. (deleted - 21.07.2010, No. 3530).

8. (deleted - 28.11.2014, No. 2822).

9. The results of the first elections of the boards of trustees of public schools may be appealed to the Ministry.

Law of Georgia of 28 October 2005 No. 2014 - LHG I, No. 47, 21.11.2005, Art. 314

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 - LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 - LHG I, No. 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 - LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 9 March 2011 No. 4322 – website, 22.03.2011

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2012 No. 5741 - website, 05.03.2012

Law of Georgia of 22 March 2013 No. 387 – website, 02.04.2013

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 27 June 2015 No. 3819 – website, 03.07.2015

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2020 No. 5746 – website, 23.03.2020

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2023 No. 3959 – website, 25.12.2023

Article 60. Ensuring the compliance of study programmes with the levels of general education🔗

The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall, before the start of the 2006-2007 academic year, ensure the commencement of instruction in all general education institutions in accordance with the National Curriculum.

Article 60¹. Measures to be implemented before the entry into force of the 2011-2012 academic year national curriculum🔗

The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall be assigned the step-by-step implementation of the measures necessary for assigning stamps to the respective textbooks of the national curriculum defined according to the subject groups provided for by paragraph 3 of Article 5 of this law.

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 - LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Article 61. (removed)🔗

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2007 No. 4412 - LHG I, No. 8, 23.03.2007, Art. 76

Law of Georgia of 18 November 2008 No. 497 – LHG I, No. 33, 01.12.2008, Art. 211

Law of Georgia of 11 July 2009 No. 1385 - LHG I, No. 18, 23.07.2009, Art. 85

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2010 No. 4042 - LHG I, No. 76, 27.12.2010, Art. 491

Law of Georgia of 2 March 2012 No. 5741 - website, 05.03.2012

Law of Georgia of 12 June 2012 No. 6448 – website, 25.06.2012

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Article 61¹. (removed)🔗

Law of Georgia of 20 April 2010 No. 2940 - LHG I, No. 23, 04.05.2010, Art. 122

Law of Georgia of 10 April 2012 No. 6013 – website, 20.04.2012

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Article 61². Transition from teacher certification to the teacher professional development and career advancement scheme🔗

1. The results of the teacher certification examination held until the end of 2014 shall be taken into account in the teacher professional development and career advancement scheme.

2. The requirements established by Article 21³ of this law for teacher education shall be deemed satisfied by:

a) a teacher working before 1 January 2015;

b) a person certified before 1 January 2015.

3. The teacher/person provided for by paragraph 2 of this article is entitled to start working as a teacher. Until the end of 2023, the right to start working as a teacher shall also be held by a person holding a bachelor's or an academic degree equal thereto, who, within 2 years from the start of working as a teacher, must complete a teacher training educational programme or a distance course of the teacher training educational programme.

4. A person who, by the beginning of the 2018-2019 academic year, teaches at a general education institution and is not included in the teacher professional development and career advancement scheme shall be considered a teacher candidate.

5. A person who, on the basis of paragraph 3 of this article, is employed at a general education institution as of 1 January 2024, is entitled to register as a teacher candidate.

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Law of Georgia of 27 November 2015 No. 4583 - website, 10.12.2015

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 - website, 05.01.2017

Law of Georgia of 20 July 2018 No. 3243 – website, 10.08.2018

Law of Georgia of 29 May 2024 No. 4204 – website, 13.06.2024

Article 61³. Transition to the scheme of professional development and career advancement of a special teacher🔗

1. A special pedagogue/special teacher, psychologist and inclusive education coordinator employed at a general educational institution before 10 August 2018 who do not meet the requirements established by paragraph 3 of Article 21³ of this Law for the education of a special teacher shall be considered practicing special teachers.

2. A practicing special teacher shall be obliged, for the purpose of confirming competence, to pass the special teacher exam determined by the legislation of Georgia by 1 January 2026.

3. A person who, as a result of completing an integrated bachelor's-master's educational program for teacher training or a master's educational program, has been awarded a Master of Education or an academic degree equivalent thereto (indicating the right to teach the subject/subjects of the corresponding level of general education), shall have the right to be employed as a practicing special teacher and to pass the special teacher exam determined by the legislation of Georgia within 2 years from the start of work in the said position, but not later than 1 January 2026.

4. A person who has the right to teach according to a document certifying higher education or at least a bachelor's degree in psychology or an academic degree of an occupational therapist, shall have the right to be employed as a practicing special teacher and to pass the special teacher exam determined by the legislation of Georgia within 2 years from the start of work in the said position, but not later than 1 January 2026.

Law of Georgia of 20 July 2018 No. 3243 – website, 10.08.2018.

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2021 No. 1141 – website, 24.12.2021.

Law of Georgia of 1 December 2022 No. 2250 – website, 14.12.2022.

Law of Georgia of 13 December 2024 No. 158 - website, 30.12.2024.

Article 62. Financing of a general educational institution🔗

1. In accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 22 of this Law, the transition of general education to financing from the central budget shall be carried out in stages, not later than the 2007-2008 academic year. Until then, the financing of general education shall be carried out by the local governance body. In those cities that are not part of any district, as well as where there are no local governance bodies, the financing of general educational institutions shall be carried out by local self-government bodies. The State shall be obliged to compensate the difference between the funding allocated by the local governance/self-government body and the financial norm calculated per pupil.

2. Before the transition of general education to financing from the central budget in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 22 of this Law, representatives of the local governance/self-government body shall enjoy the right of a casting vote in the board of trustees.

3. Paragraph 2 of Article 21 of this Law shall enter into force not later than the beginning of the 2005-2006 academic year.

Article 62¹. Measures to be implemented in connection with the change of the duration of the basic level of general education and the change of the duration of the secondary level🔗

1. The change of the duration of the basic level of general education shall also affect those students who will be in grade IX in the 2024-2025 academic year.

2. Those persons who in the 2024-2025 academic year pass, by way of externship, the level of achievement established by the national curriculum for grade IX of the basic level of general education and whose age corresponds to or exceeds the age of a grade X student in the 2024-2025 academic year, shall continue their studies from the 2024-2025 academic year in the corresponding grade of the secondary level of general education.

3. Those students whose student status was suspended in grade X of the secondary level of general education up to and including the 2024-2025 academic year and who restore this status from the 2025-2026 academic year shall continue their studies in grade XI of the secondary level of general education.

4. Those students who in the 2024-2025 academic year fail to pass the level of achievement established by the national curriculum for grade X of the secondary level of general education shall continue their studies from the 2025-2026 academic year in grade XI of the secondary level of general education.

5. An educational institution implementing a secondary vocational educational programme in which the learning outcomes of the secondary level of general education are integrated shall be entitled, on the basis of the admission of vocational students announced before 1 July 2025 to the secondary vocational educational programme in which the learning outcomes of 3 years of the secondary level of general education are integrated, to have the enrolled vocational students complete their studies and to award the qualification provided for by this programme. In this case, a document certifying secondary vocational education – a diploma – and a document certifying complete general education shall be issued.

6. An educational institution implementing a secondary vocational educational programme in which the learning outcomes of the secondary level of general education are integrated shall not be entitled to announce the admission of vocational students to the secondary vocational educational programme provided for by paragraph 5 of this article after 1 July 2025.

Law of Georgia of 18 July 2024 No. 4372 – website, 30.07.2024.

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2025 No. 691 – website, 26.06.2025.

Article 62². Measures to be implemented in connection with the change of the duration of the basic level and the duration of the secondary level of general education from 2026🔗

1. To the person who in the 2025-2026 academic year has met or who in the 2025-2026 academic year will meet the achievement level established by the national curriculum for grade IX of the basic level of general education, a document certifying basic general education − a certificate shall be issued.

2. To the person who before the start of the 2026-2027 academic year has met or who before the start of the 2026-2027 academic year will meet the achievement level established by the national curriculum for grade X of the basic level of general education, a document certifying basic general education − a certificate shall be issued.

3. The person who in the 2025-2026 academic year is studying in grade X of the basic level of general education and fails to meet the achievement level established by the national curriculum for grade X of the basic level of general education, as well as the person whose pupil status was suspended in the 2025-2026 academic year in grade X of the basic level of general education, shall be deemed to have completed the basic level of general education and shall be issued a document certifying basic general education − a certificate, and if that person continues studies at the secondary level of general education, he/she shall be enrolled in grade X of the secondary level of general education.

4. In order to receive the document certifying complete general education − a certificate, for a person (except for the person who in the 2026-2027 academic year will start studying in grade X of the secondary level of general education) until the 2028-2029 academic year, completion of grade XII of the secondary level of general education is mandatory.

5. Completion of grade XII of the secondary level of general education is voluntary from the 2028-2029 academic year.

6. In order to receive the document certifying complete general education − a certificate, for the person who started studying at the secondary level of general education in the 2006-2007 academic year or after the 2006-2007 academic year and before the start of the 2028-2029 academic year has completed the primary and basic levels of general education, as well as grades X and XI of the secondary level, completion of grade XII of the secondary level of general education is also mandatory. From 2028, for the said person the Ministry shall annually ensure the organisation of extern examinations.

7. In order to receive the document certifying complete general education − a certificate, for the person who started studying at the secondary level of general education in the 2006-2007 academic year or after the 2006-2007 academic year and before the start of the 2028-2029 academic year has completed the primary and basic levels of general education, as well as grade X of the secondary level, completion of grades XI and XII of the secondary level of general education is also mandatory. From 2028, for the said person the Ministry shall annually ensure the organisation of extern examinations.

8. A person who has completed grade X of the secondary level of general education in the 2025-2026 academic year, or who will complete grade X of the secondary level of general education in the 2025-2026 academic year, and who from the 2026-2027 academic year or after the 2026-2027 academic year will continue studies at the secondary level of general education, shall be enrolled in grade XI of the secondary level of general education.

9. In cases other than those provided for by this article, on matters related to the completion of the basic and secondary levels of general education and to the issuance of a document certifying general education, the decision shall be taken by the Minister by an individual administrative-legal act.

Law of Georgia of 4 February 2026 No. 1353 – website, 05.02.2026.

Article 63. Transition to 12-year general education schooling🔗

1. The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall ensure the gradual transition to 12-year general education schooling from the 2006-2007 academic year.

2. The 12-year general education schooling shall not apply to pupils in grade 11 at the beginning of 2006-2007.

3. (deleted – 25.11.2011, No. 5349).

4. (deleted – 25.11.2011, No. 5349).

Law of Georgia of 25 November 2011 No. 5349 – website, 06.12.2011.

Article 63¹. Georgia's occupied🔗

territories

received

general

education

recognition

Recognition of general education received in the occupied territories of Georgia shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure established by the Minister.

Law of Georgia of 19 December 2008 No. 790 – LHG I, No. 40, 29.12.2008, Art. 257

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3025 – website, 11.07.2018.

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 338 – website, 18.03.2021.

Article 63². Disposal of the property of a public school transferred by the State in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia🔗

The right provided for by paragraph 2 of Article 50 of this Law shall be granted to the ministry authorised in the field of education in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia after the creation of the relevant conditions in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.

Law of Georgia of 26 February 2010 No. 2671 – LHG I, No. 10, 16.03.2010, Art. 36

Law of Georgia of 24 June 2025 No. 690 – website, 26.06.2025.

Article 63³. Exception related to the age of starting studies at the primary level of general education in the 2014-2015 academic year🔗

In the 2014-2015 academic year, the right to start studies at the primary level of general education shall also be held by persons who will turn 6 before 1 January 2015, or who in the 2013-2014 academic year are studying in a preparatory class/group for starting studies at the primary level of general education and whose age exceeds 5 years before the start of the 2014-2015 academic year.

Law of Georgia of 16 July 2010 No. 3442 – LHG I, No. 44, 28.07.2010, Art. 273

Law of Georgia of 4 April 2014 No. 2210 – website, 14.04.2014.

Article 63⁴. Admission of students to a named educational programme🔗

A general educational institution which, as of 1 September 2010, carries out named educational activity shall be entitled, until the completion of that educational programme by the students enrolled in the named educational programme, to carry out the said educational activity. It shall be inadmissible for a general educational institution to admit students to a named educational programme after 1 September 2010.

Law of Georgia of 21 July 2010 No. 3530 - LHG I, No. 47, 05.08.2010, Art. 302

Article 63⁵. Recognition of documents certifying general education issued before 1 September 2010 by unlicensed educational institutions of the Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia🔗

The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and the Patriarchate of Georgia shall, before 1 January 2015, ensure the compilation of a list of those unlicensed educational institutions of the Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia whose documents certifying general education issued before 1 September 2010 are recognised by the State under the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia of 28 November 2014 No. 2822 - website, 15.12.2014

Article 63⁶. Recognition in Georgia of a general educational programme recognised abroad🔗

1. A document certifying education issued before the start of the 2017-2018 academic year as a result of the completion of a general educational programme recognised abroad and implemented in Georgia shall be equated with a document certifying general education, where the National Centre for Educational Quality Enhancement concludes a contract after 1 January 2017 with the competent institution of the foreign country that carries out the recognition of that programme.

2. The education received by a person before the start of the 2017-2018 academic year within the framework of a general educational programme recognised abroad and implemented in Georgia shall be recognised, where the National Centre for Educational Quality Enhancement concludes a contract after 1 January 2017 with the competent institution of the foreign country that carries out the recognition of that programme.

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2016 No. 102 - website, 05.01.2017

Article 63⁷. Requirements to be imposed on a mandatur of an educational institution🔗

1. The operation of paragraph 3 of Article 48¹ of this Law shall not apply to a person appointed as a mandatur of an educational institution before 15 September 2018.

2. The mandatur of an educational institution provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article shall be a capable citizen of Georgia without a criminal record, who has attained the age of 20, has complete general education, knows the state language, has the appropriate state of health for the performance of official duties, and has completed the preparatory courses approved by order of the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, which, along with other teaching components, take into account the patterns of the age-related development of the pupil/student, as well as the professional duties and values of a mandatur of an educational institution.

Law of Georgia of 13 June 2018 No. 2523 – website, 29.06.2018.

Article 63⁸. Exemption from the obligation to pass school leaving examinations of persons who have not obtained a document certifying complete general education🔗

1. Persons who completed the secondary level of general education before the start of the 2018-2019 academic year and who did not participate in school leaving examinations shall be issued a state document certifying complete general education − a certificate.

2. Persons who completed the secondary level of general education before the start of the 2018-2019 academic year and participated in school leaving examinations, but did not receive a positive assessment in the subjects required for obtaining the document certifying complete general education − a certificate, shall be issued a state document certifying complete general education − a certificate.

Law of Georgia of 8 April 2019 No. 4495 – website, 11.04.2019.

Article 63⁹. Extension of the term of authorisation of general educational institutions🔗

The term of authorisation of general educational institutions authorised in accordance with the authorisation standards of a general educational institution that entered into force on 1 January 2023 shall be determined as 9 years from the obtaining of authorisation.

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2023 No. 3959 – website, 25.12.2023.

Article 63¹⁰. Exception related to the age of starting studies at the primary level of general education in the 2024-2025 academic year🔗

In the 2024-2025 academic year, the age of starting studies at the primary level of general education is 6 years, which the person attains up to and including the date of the start of the academic year indicated in paragraph 1 of Article 7¹ of this Law. At the same time, a person who attains 6 years from the day following the date of the start of the academic year until 1 December shall have the right, by decision of the parent, to voluntarily start studies at the primary level of general education.

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2023 No. 3959 – website, 25.12.2023.

Article 63¹¹. Vacation pay of a public school teacher for 2024🔗

1. The vacation pay of a public school teacher who enjoys/will enjoy the vacation due for 2024 from 1 July 2024 shall be determined from the average labour remuneration for the 3 months preceding the month of that vacation, and if the time worked by him/her since the start of work or since the last vacation is less than 3 months – from the average labour remuneration for the month/months worked (for the purpose of determining vacation pay, the labour remuneration for April, May and June 2024 shall be calculated in accordance with the "Minimum Amount and Conditions of Labour Remuneration of Teachers of Public Schools" in force as of 1 July 2024).

2. If the vacation pay determined in accordance with the procedure established by paragraph 1 of this Article is less than the amount that the public school teacher would have received as vacation pay calculated in accordance with the "Minimum Amount and Conditions of Labour Remuneration of Teachers of Public Schools" in force as of 30 June 2024, the vacation pay shall be determined in accordance with the "Minimum Amount and Conditions of Labour Remuneration of Teachers of Public Schools" in force as of 30 June 2024.

Law of Georgia of 29 May 2024 No. 4204 – website, 13.06.2024.

Article 63¹². Exception related to the age of starting school at the primary level of general education in the 2026-2027 academic year🔗

In the 2026-2027 academic year, in addition to the person determined by paragraph 6 of Article 6 of this Law, a person who turns 6 from 16 September 2026 to 31 December 2026 inclusive may, by the parent's decision, voluntarily start school at the primary level of general education.

Law of Georgia of 1 April 2026 No. 1478 – website, 01.04.2026.

Article 64. Entry into force of the Law🔗

This Law shall enter into force upon publication.

President of Georgia M. Saakashvili

Tbilisi,

8 April 2005.

No. 1330–Is