On Early and Preschool Upbringing and Education

Law of Georgia

On Early and Preschool Upbringing and Education

Article 1. Scope of regulation of the Law🔗

This Law regulates the legal grounds for ensuring universal accessibility, development and quality of early and preschool upbringing and education in Georgia, the organisational structure of early and preschool upbringing and education institutions, establishes the procedure for their founding, operation and accountability, as well as the mandatory nature of their authorisation. This Law determines the powers, obligations, functions and responsibilities of state bodies, municipalities and other legal entities and natural persons, as well as the principles of financing of preschool upbringing and education.

Article 2. Legislation of Georgia in the field of early and preschool upbringing and education🔗

The legislation of Georgia in the field of early and preschool upbringing and education consists of the Constitution of Georgia, international treaties of Georgia, the Organic Law of Georgia "Local Self-Government Code", this Law, other legislative acts of Georgia and subordinate normative acts.

Article 3. Definition of terms🔗

For the purposes of this Law, the terms used herein have the following meaning:

a) early upbringing and education − a service provided to a child from birth to 2 years of age (early age) and to his/her parent/legal representative, which includes: education and support of the parent/legal representative, services of a child care institution for a child of the said age, health protection, nutrition, hygiene and sanitary safety, early intervention for children and inclusive education;

b) preschool upbringing and education – upbringing and educational service provided to a child from 2 years of age until entry into the first grade of the primary level of general education, for the purpose of ensuring the child's all-round development; a mandatory component of preschool upbringing and education is the school readiness programme;

c) state standard of early and preschool education − a document that determines the results to be achieved for the child's multifaceted development from birth until the start of the school readiness programme and the quality characteristics of the educational programme;

d) school readiness programme – an educational programme prepared on the basis of the state educational standard of school readiness, which promotes the achievement of the results established by this standard;

e) state educational standard of school readiness − a document that determines the results to be achieved for the child's multifaceted development and the promotion of school readiness before entry into the first grade of the primary level of general education and the quality characteristics of the educational programme;

f) institution – a legal entity founded in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, which ensures the provision of early upbringing and education services and/or preschool upbringing and education services and/or the implementation of only the school readiness programme;

g) public institution − an institution founded and managed by a municipality or by a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity founded by it;

h) educator-pedagogue – a person who carries out upbringing-pedagogical activity in an institution; the professional standard of the educator-pedagogue is approved by the Government of Georgia;

i) educator − a person who assists the educator-pedagogue and performs upbringing functions;

j) child – a citizen of Georgia, a citizen of a foreign country, a stateless person having status in Georgia, from birth until the start of studies in the first grade of the primary level of general education provided for by the Law of Georgia "On General Education";

k) inclusive education − an educational approach within the framework of which the education system ensures the provision of quality education to every child in an institution, taking into account their individual needs, regardless of the children's physical, cognitive, sensory, social, emotional, linguistic, ethnic, racial, religious or other characteristics;

l) authorization – the procedure for obtaining the status of an early care and education institution and/or a preschool care and education institution;

m) consultative council of a public institution (hereinafter – consultative council) – a council existing at a public institution, provided for by this Law, which promotes the effective functioning of this institution;

n) education and support of a parent/legal representative – raising the awareness of the parent/legal representative of a child involved in early and preschool care and education programmes regarding the importance of early and preschool care and education, as well as the promotion of the child's learning and development, through individual or group meetings;

o) violence – violation of a child's rights and freedoms by a person through physical, psychological, economic, sexual influence or coercion, as well as neglect (negligent treatment), which was/is carried out with direct intent and/or without intent.

Law of Georgia of 2 April 2025 No. 433 – website, 4 April 2025.

Article 4. Principles of preschool care and education🔗

1. In Georgia, the free care and education of children in a public preschool care and education institution, as well as their nutrition, is ensured in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

2. Preschool care and education, including the school readiness programme, is voluntary, universal and accessible to all children of the appropriate age.

3. A municipality shall introduce and ensure the provision of preschool care and education, including the school readiness programme, to children in accordance with the legislation of Georgia (including this Law and normative acts of the Government of Georgia).

Article 5. Language of instruction in an institution🔗

1. The language of instruction in an institution is Georgian, and in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia – also Abkhazian.

2. An institution is entitled, taking into account the linguistic needs of children representing linguistic minorities, to offer them programmes and resources corresponding to the state educational standard defined by this Law, both in the state language and in their native language.

3. An institution is entitled to provide children with care and educational services in their native and/or non-state language and to use educational programmes and resources corresponding to the state educational standards defined by this Law.

Article 6. Child protection🔗

1. Any violence against a child in an institution is prohibited.

2. The institution shall ensure that the institution's educator-pedagogue, educator and other personnel possess and use non-violent treatment and upbringing methods, and also that they have information about the consequences of violence against a child and the forms of liability.

3. The training and retraining of the institution's educator-pedagogue, educator and other personnel shall include teaching them about the principle of the best interests of the child, the inadmissibility of violence against a child, effective mechanisms for a child's regulation of their own behaviour, and the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure a safe and non-violent environment.

4. The institution shall ensure the prevention of violence against a child (including the education and informing of the child's parent/legal representative), identification, assessment, notification thereof and appropriate response thereto in accordance with child protection referral procedures.

5. Failure to fulfil the obligation to detect violence against a child and to provide information about violence against a child to the relevant state body shall result in liability in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia.

6. The institution shall designate a person responsible for preventing violence against children and protecting children from violence in the institution.

7. It is inadmissible to include in the institution's upbringing and/or educational programme, and/or to disseminate by an employee of the institution within the scope of the activities of this institution and/or on the territory of the same institution, or to facilitate the dissemination of, such information as is aimed at the popularisation of the attribution of a person to neither biological sex and/or to a sex different from their biological sex, of relationships expressed on the grounds of sexual orientation between representatives of the same biological sex, or of incest. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term "popularisation" shall be interpreted in accordance with the Law of Georgia "On Family Values and Protection of Minors".

Law of Georgia of 17 September 2024 No. 4444 – website, 03.10.2024.

Article 7. Powers/obligations of the Government of Georgia in the field of early and preschool upbringing and education🔗

In order to provide early and preschool upbringing and education throughout the entire territory of the country, based on the principle of equal, quality and protection of the best interests of the child, the Government of Georgia exercises the following powers and performs the following obligations:

a) within the framework of the legal regulation of the rights of the child and his/her parent/legal representative, ensures universal accessibility of early and preschool education, including the school readiness programme;

b) establishes the rule for authorisation of the institution;

c) upon the submission of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, approves the state standards of early and preschool upbringing and education, including the educational state standard of school readiness, which is subject to review and development at least once every 5 years;

d) upon the submission of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, approves the professional standard of the educator-pedagogue;

e) in order to establish rules for compliance with sanitary-hygienic norms in the institution, upon the submission of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia, approves a technical regulation;

f) in order to establish norms for the organisation of nutrition in the institution and the nutritional value of the ration, upon the submission of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia, approves a technical regulation;

g) upon the submission of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, approves a technical regulation on the buildings and structures, infrastructure and material and technical base of the institution and the arrangement of the buildings and structures;

h) promotes the infrastructural development of the institution;

i) upon the submission of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, approves the rule for the maintenance of the register of institutions by the municipality and the list of data and indicators to be entered in this register;

j) exercises other powers determined by the legislation of Georgia and performs other obligations.

Law of Georgia of 7 December 2017 No. 1639 – website, 14.12.2017.

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3104 – website, 11.07.2018.

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 366 – website, 18.03.2021.

Law of Georgia of 30 November 2023 No. 3852 – website, 15.12.2023.

Article 8. Powers/Obligations of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia in the field of preschool upbringing and education🔗

The Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia in the field of preschool upbringing and education, on the basis of the legislation of Georgia – the Constitution of Georgia, international treaties of Georgia, this Law, other laws of Georgia and subordinate acts:

a) develops and submits to the Government of Georgia for approval the state standards of preschool upbringing and education, including the educational state standard for school readiness, ensuring the fulfilment of which is mandatory for municipalities;

b) develops and submits to the Government of Georgia for approval the professional standard of educator-pedagogue;

c) develops and approves the professional educational standard of educator;

d) taking into account the principles of inclusive education, prepares a list of educational resources and methodological resources and ensures the accessibility of these resources for municipalities;

e) for the purpose of introducing, developing and improving the state standards of preschool upbringing and education, develops a monitoring system in a public institution, carries out monitoring and evaluation and prepares relevant recommendations;

f) develops training modules for the professional development of educator-pedagogues and assists municipalities in retraining them;

g) assists in informing the public about inclusive preschool upbringing and education;

h) exercises other powers determined by the legislation of Georgia and performs other obligations.

Law of Georgia No. 3104 of 5 July 2018 – website, 11.07.2018.

Law of Georgia No. 3449 of 20 September 2018 – website, 09.10.2018.

Law of Georgia No. 366 of 16 March 2021 – website, 18.03.2021.

Law of Georgia No. 3852 of 30 November 2023 – website, 15.12.2023.

Article 9. Powers/obligations of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia in the field of early and preschool upbringing and education🔗

In the field of early and preschool upbringing and education, the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia, on the basis of Georgian legislation — the Constitution of Georgia, international treaties and agreements of Georgia, this Law, other laws of Georgia and subordinate acts:

a) in order to establish rules for compliance with sanitary-hygienic norms in an institution, develops a technical regulation and submits it to the Government of Georgia for approval;

b) in order to establish norms for the organisation of nutrition in an institution and for the nutritional value of the ration, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, develops a technical regulation and submits it to the Government of Georgia for approval;

c) participates in the process of protecting children from violence in accordance with child protection referral procedures;

d) exercises other powers determined by Georgian legislation and performs other obligations.

Law of Georgia of 7 December 2017 No. 1639 – website, 14 December 2017.

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3104 – website, 11 July 2018.

Article 10. Powers/obligations of municipalities in the field of preschool upbringing and education🔗

1. The powers/obligations of municipalities in the field of preschool upbringing and education, on the basis of Georgian legislation – the Constitution of Georgia, international treaties and agreements of Georgia, this Law, other laws of Georgia and subordinate acts, include:

a) ensuring the provision of preschool upbringing and education services in accordance with state standards;

b) ensuring the provision of equally accessible and inclusive preschool upbringing and education;

c) ensuring the protection of and respect for the rights of the child and his/her parent/legal representative in the process of providing preschool upbringing and education;

d) ensuring the involvement of the child's parent/legal representative in the institution's programme;

e) developing a monitoring, evaluation and reporting system to determine compliance with the authorisation standards for preschool upbringing and education services, and ensuring its functioning;

f) preparing an annual municipal programme and financial plan, taking into account the needs of the public institution;

g) exercising other powers and performing other obligations provided for by this Law.

2. For the proper development of children and their preparation for school, municipalities shall ensure the creation of a strong and sustainable preschool upbringing and education system based on the following principles:

a) universal accessibility of preschool upbringing and education in accordance with the state standard, regardless of the child's physical, cognitive, sensory, social, emotional, linguistic, ethnic, racial, religious or other characteristics;

b) ensuring the right to education and other rights of the child and his/her parent/legal representative established by Georgian and international legislation;

c) ensuring appropriate conditions for the introduction of services in accordance with the state standard;

d) ensuring full accountability and transparency in the provision of preschool upbringing and education services;

e) ensuring effective relations with the child's parent/legal representative and with society.

3. In order to introduce preschool upbringing and education services in accordance with the state standard, municipalities:

a) shall study municipal needs, plan local resources and determine budgetary funds;

b) shall ensure the retraining of educator-pedagogues in accordance with the professional development training modules for educator-pedagogues developed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia;

c) shall ensure control over the fulfilment of the standards established for institutions and their services;

d) shall establish job instructions and rules of conduct and ethics for the personnel of institutions and ensure their fulfilment;

e) establish the qualification requirements for the director of a public institution and once every 5 years monitor compliance with these requirements;

f) ensure the functioning of the system of internal monitoring, evaluation and reporting of institutions;

g) in accordance with the system of monitoring of institutions developed by municipalities, systematically carry out monitoring of institutions, the purpose of which is to verify compliance with the authorisation conditions in accordance with the authorisation procedure;

h) approve the mandatory terms of the employment contract concluded with a person employed in the institution, with possible consultation with the trade union.

4. Municipalities shall ensure the exercise of the powers provided for by this Law through the relevant structural units of the municipality's city hall and/or a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity founded for this purpose.

Law of Georgia of 26 July 2017 No. 1261 – website, 29.07.2017.

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3104 – website, 11.07.2018.

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 366 – website, 18.03.2021.

Law of Georgia of 30 November 2023 No. 3852 – website, 15.12.2023.

Law of Georgia of 2 April 2025 No. 433 – website, 04.04.2025.

Article 11. Powers of the Legal Entity of Public Law − National Food Agency in the field of early and preschool upbringing and education🔗

The Legal Entity of Public Law − National Food Agency verifies food safety in an institution in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

Article 12. Powers of the Legal Entity of Public Law − National Statistics Service of Georgia in the field of early and preschool upbringing and education🔗

1. The Legal Entity of Public Law − National Statistics Service of Georgia publishes the statistical information received from municipalities.

2. The statistical information provided for by paragraph 1 of this Article, by municipality, covers the following issues:

a) the number of institutions;

b) the number of children involved in the educational-upbringing programme of the institution;

c) the number of educator-pedagogues/educators;

d) other information related to the provision of early and preschool upbringing and education services − upon the request of the Legal Entity of Public Law − National Statistics Service of Georgia.

Article 13. Establishment of an institution and its organisational-legal form🔗

1. An institution may be established in the organisational-legal form of a private law entrepreneurial (commercial) legal entity or a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity.

2. A municipality and/or a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity founded by it shall be entitled to establish an institution only in the organisational-legal form of a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity.

Article 14. Authorisation of an institution🔗

1. In order to provide early and preschool upbringing and education services, an institution shall undergo authorisation.

2. The procedure for an institution's undergoing authorisation, as well as for the suspension and termination of an institution's authorisation, shall be established by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.

3. Authorisation of an institution shall be carried out by the relevant structural unit of the municipality's city hall.

4. The relevant service of the municipality, for the purpose of authorising an institution, shall verify the compliance of the institution's conditions with the requirements established by this Law and the relevant subordinate normative acts.

5. Authorisation of an institution shall be free of charge.

6. The municipal body shall maintain a register of institutions, collect and reflect therein data in accordance with the procedure for maintaining the register of institutions by the municipality and the list of data and indicators to be entered in this register approved by the Government of Georgia, ensure the publicity of the data and provide them to the Legal Entity of Public Law − the National Statistics Office of Georgia in accordance with Article 12 of this Law. The relevant structural unit of the municipality's city hall shall be responsible for the accuracy of the data provided.

Law of Georgia of 26 July 2017 No. 1261 – website, 29.07.2017.

Article 15. Conditions for authorisation of an institution🔗

1. An applicant legal entity/authorised institution meets the authorisation conditions if:

a) learning/teaching in the institution is carried out in accordance with the state standards of preschool upbringing and education, including the educational state standard of school readiness;

b) the building(s) and structure(s), infrastructure and material-technical base of the institution and the arrangement of the building(s) and structure(s) comply with the relevant technical regulation approved by the Government of Georgia;

c) the sanitary-hygienic conditions in the institution comply with the relevant technical regulation approved by the Government of Georgia;

d) the organisation of meals in the institution and the nutritional value of the ration comply with the relevant technical regulation approved by the Government of Georgia;

e) the qualification and experience of human resources in the institution comply with the professional standard of the educator-pedagogue approved by the Government of Georgia and with the standards established by the municipality for other personnel.

2. After the institution has undergone authorisation, violation of the requirements established by paragraph 1 of this Article shall result in the suspension or termination of the institution's authorisation.

Article 16. Term of authorisation of an institution🔗

The term of authorisation of an institution shall be 6 years.

Law of Georgia of 17 December 2025 No. 1274 – website, 18.12.2025.

Article 17. Rights and obligations of the institution in relation to children and their parents/legal representatives🔗

1. The institution provides early and preschool upbringing and education services.

2. The institution ensures:

a) protection and respect of the right to education and other rights of the child and his/her parent/legal representative established by Georgian and international legislation;

b) compliance with the standards established for the institution;

c) development of the institution's strategy in accordance with the standards related to inclusive education, protection of the child from violence, safety, sanitation and hygiene;

d) full transparency of the provision of early and preschool upbringing and education services;

e) effective communication with the children's parents/legal representatives and society.

f) provision to the child of information about his/her own rights and protection mechanisms, in accordance with his/her age and individual capabilities, by means of communication accessible to the child.

3. A public institution ensures:

a) universal accessibility of early and preschool upbringing and education for all children, regardless of their physical, cognitive, sensory, social, emotional, linguistic, ethnic, racial, religious or other characteristics;

b) involvement of the children's parents/legal representatives in the process of providing early and preschool upbringing and education services.

4. The institution shall facilitate the child's sports activity in the process of preschool upbringing and education, the aim of which shall be the establishment of a healthy lifestyle for the child at an early age.

Law of Georgia No. 5019 of 20 September 2019 – website, 27.09.2019.

Law of Georgia No. 5919 of 21 May 2020 – website, 25.05.2020.

Law of Georgia No. 433 of 2 April 2025 – website, 04.04.2025.

Article 18. Consultative Council🔗

1. A public institution shall establish a consultative council on a public basis.

2. The consultative council shall have 7 members:

a) 5 parents/legal representatives;

b) 2 educator-pedagogues.

3. By decision of the consultative council, an expert/specialist may be invited to participate in the activities of the consultative council.

4. The director of the public institution shall be entitled to attend the meetings of the consultative council without the right to vote.

5. The consultative council shall be elected by the general meeting of parents for a term of 1 year, with the right to renew this term once.

6. The activities of the consultative council shall be regulated by this Law and the charter of the public institution.

7. The consultative council shall be headed by the chairperson of the consultative council, who shall be elected by the members of the consultative council by a majority of votes, for a term of 2 years. The chairperson of the consultative council shall convene and chair the meetings of the consultative council.

8. The consultative council shall convene as necessary, but not less than 4 times a year.

9. The consultative council shall be entitled to adopt a decision with the participation of at least 4 members, by a simple majority of votes. In the event of an equal division of votes, the decision shall be adopted by the chairperson of the consultative council.

10. The consultative council:

a) reviews the service, the annual schedule of the curriculum and the list of educational materials and gives relevant recommendations;

b) reviews the financial expenses of the public institution and the matters of management of property assets and gives relevant recommendations to the administration of the public institution;

c) in accordance with the charter, reviews the complaints of the children's parents/legal representatives and gives recommendations to the administration of the public institution for the elimination of problems;

d) quarterly submits recommendations to the relevant structural unit of the municipality's city hall and/or the relevant non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity founded by it.

Law of Georgia of 26 July 2017 No. 1261 – website, 29.07.2017.

Article 18¹. Restriction established for the institution's personnel🔗

A person convicted of a crime against sexual freedom and inviolability provided for by the Law of Georgia "On Combating Crimes Directed against Sexual Freedom and Inviolability" may not be employed in the institution, regardless of the removal or expungement of the conviction.

Law of Georgia of 17 March 2020 No. 5753 – website, 23.03.2020.

Article 19. Education and support of the parent/legal representative🔗

1. The Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Protection of Georgia, in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, ensures support for the parent/legal representative in matters of maternal and child health.

2. The Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, within the scope of its competence, facilitates the implementation of various programmes for the education of the parent/legal representative.

Law of Georgia of 5 July 2018 No. 3104 – website, 11.07.2018.

Law of Georgia of 16 March 2021 No. 366 – website, 18.03.2021.

Law of Georgia of 30 November 2023 No. 3852 – website, 15.12.2023.

Article 20. Composition of preschool upbringing and education groups🔗

1. The institution shall be obliged to form independent groups from children of the following age categories:

a) from 2 to 3 years − first year of preschool education;

b) from 3 to 4 years − 2nd year of preschool education;

c) from 4 to 5 years − 3rd year of preschool education;

d) from 5 years until entry into the first grade of the primary level of school − 4th year of preschool education − the school readiness programme shall be implemented.

2. In the case of an insufficient number of children of the same age, the institution is entitled to form a multi-age group from children of adjacent ages, with a composition of not more than 15 children.

3. In the case provided for by paragraph 2 of this Article, the institution shall take a decision in agreement with its founder.

Article 21. Duration of the academic-educational year and day of preschool upbringing and education🔗

1. The beginning and end of the academic-educational year of a public institution shall be determined by the municipality.

2. The duration of the academic-educational day of a public institution is 9 hours, with three meals.

3. The duration of the school readiness programme is 3 hours per day.

4. The working time and other terms of the employment relations of a person employed in the institution shall be regulated by the Organic Law of Georgia "Labour Code of Georgia".

Article 22. Group size and ratio of educator-pedagogues/educators to children🔗

1. Pre-school upbringing and education groups shall be staffed according to the following maximum numbers:

a) a group of children from 2 to 3 years of age may contain no more than 25 children;

b) a group of children from 3 to 4 years of age may contain no more than 30 children;

c) a group of children from 4 to 5 years of age may contain no more than 30 children.

2. In the school readiness programme group, children may study/be taught from 5 years of age until entry into the first grade of the primary level of school. The number of children in this group shall not exceed 30.

3. In each group, the number of educator-pedagogues/educators shall be determined by the following ratio:

a) in a group of children from 2 to 3 years of age, the ratio of educator-pedagogues/educators to children shall not be more than 1:13;

b) in a group of children from 3 to 4 years of age, the ratio of educator-pedagogues/educators to children shall not be more than 1:15;

c) in a group of children from 4 to 5 years of age, the ratio of educator-pedagogues/educators to children shall not be more than 1:15;

d) in the school readiness programme group, the ratio of educator-pedagogues/educators to children shall not be more than 1:15.

Article 23. Inclusive early and pre-school upbringing and education🔗

1. The institution shall ensure the provision of inclusive education for children, regardless of their physical, cognitive, sensory, social, emotional, linguistic, ethnic, racial, religious or other characteristics.

2. The institution shall be obliged to continue providing education to a child involved in the inclusive education programme if, proceeding from the best interests of the child, it is still not appropriate for the child to enter school, regardless of the relevant age.

3. In the case provided for by paragraph 2 of this Article, the decision shall be taken by the child's parent/legal representative on the basis of consultation with the child's educator-pedagogues and relevant specialists.

Law of Georgia of 2 April 2025 No. 433 – website, 04.04.2025.

Article 24. Remuneration of the labour of an educator-pedagogue🔗

The basic maximum amount of remuneration of the labour of an educator-pedagogue shall be determined by a normative act of the Government of Georgia.

Article 25. Internal monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the institution🔗

1. The institution shall regularly and periodically carry out internal monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

2. A public institution shall submit annual and financial reports to the founder annually, in accordance with the plan established by the municipality.

Article 26. Municipal control of the institution🔗

1. The relevant structural unit of the municipality's city hall and/or a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity founded by the municipality shall, in accordance with this Law and the procedure established by the municipal council, control the provision of early and preschool upbringing and education services by the institution.

2. The standards for the exercise of control over the activities of a public institution by the relevant structural unit of the municipality's city hall and/or by a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity founded by the municipality shall be established by a Resolution of the Government of Georgia.

3. For the purpose of exercising control over the activities of the institution, the relevant structural unit of the municipality's city hall and/or a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity founded by the municipality shall carry out:

a) monitoring of the fulfilment by the institution of the authorization conditions provided for by Article 15 of this Law;

b) inspection and assessment of the keeping of accounting and financial records by the institution;

c) inspection and assessment of the fulfilment by the institution of other requirements established by the legislation of Georgia.

4. The relevant structural unit of the municipality's city hall and/or a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity founded by the municipality shall be entitled, for the purpose of exercising control over the activities of the institution, to appear at the institution without prior notice in order to verify on site the fulfilment of the authorization conditions.

5. The relevant structural unit of the municipality's city hall and/or a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity founded by the municipality shall be obliged, at the request of the parents/legal representatives of at least 10 children enrolled in the upbringing and educational programme of the institution, to carry out an unscheduled control of that institution.

6. The mayor of the municipality shall be obliged to submit the data obtained as a result of the exercise of control over the activities of the institution to the municipal council within the framework of the annual report.

Law of Georgia of 26 July 2017 No. 1261 – website, 29.07.2017.

Article 27. Financing of the early and preschool upbringing and education system🔗

1. The municipality shall be obliged to allocate annually from its own budget the funds necessary for the management and provision of services in the institutions founded by it.

2. The form, procedure and conditions of financing of a public institution by the municipality shall be approved by the municipal council.

Article 28. Transitional provisions🔗

1. Before 1 October 2017, the Government of Georgia shall:

a) adopt a Resolution on establishing the rule for authorisation of an institution;

b) in order to approve the state standards of early and preschool upbringing and education, including the educational state standard of school readiness, adopt a normative act;

c) in order to approve the professional standard of an educator-pedagogue, adopt a normative act;

d) in order to approve the technical regulation regulating the rules of compliance with sanitary-hygienic norms in an institution, adopt a normative act;

e) in order to approve the technical regulation regulating the organisation of nutrition in an institution and the norms of the nutritional value of the ration, adopt a normative act;

f) in order to approve the technical regulation on the building and structure, the infrastructure and the material-technical base of an institution and on the arrangement of the building and structure, adopt a normative act;

g) in order to approve the rule of keeping the register of institutions by the municipality and the list of data and indicators to be entered in this register, adopt a normative act.

2. Before 1 October 2017, the Government of Georgia shall, in order to determine the basic maximum amount of remuneration of an educator-pedagogue, adopt a normative act.

3. Before 1 October 2017, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia shall:

a) (removed – 20.09.2018, No. 3449);

b) in order to introduce, develop and improve the state standards of preschool upbringing and education, issue a normative act for the elaboration of a monitoring system in a public institution;

c) in order to elaborate training modules for the professional development of educator-pedagogues and to facilitate their retraining for municipalities, issue a normative act.

4. Before 1 October 2017, the Sakrebulo of each municipality shall:

a) in order to elaborate a system of monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the provision of preschool upbringing and education services and of the school readiness programme, adopt a normative act;

b) in order to elaborate the system of internal monitoring and evaluation of the institution and of the provision of services of the preschool education and school readiness programme, adopt a normative act;

c) in order to establish job instructions, rules of conduct and ethics for the personnel of the institution, adopt a normative act;

d) in order to establish professional standards for the personnel of the institution, adopt a normative act;

e) in order to establish qualification requirements for the director of a public institution, adopt a normative act.

5. Subordinate normative acts in force in the field of regulation of this Law shall retain legal force until amendments are made to them or they are repealed.

6. For the purposes of authorisation of institutions, the period until 1 January 2030 shall be considered the transitional period.

7. During the transitional period, the authorisation of institutions shall be carried out by the Legal Entity of Public Law within the governance sphere of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia – the National Centre for Educational Quality Development (hereinafter – the Centre).

8. During the transition period, but not later than 31 December 2022, the Government of Georgia, upon the submission of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, shall approve by Resolution the temporary rule for the passage of authorisation by an institution, as well as for the suspension and termination of the authorisation of an institution (hereinafter – the temporary rule).

8¹. An institution of general education founded in the form of a legal entity of private law shall, during the transition period, be entitled, without the creation of an independent legal entity, to obtain the right to implement a preschool upbringing and education programme/school readiness programme in accordance with the temporary rule.

9. During the transition period, for the purpose of carrying out the authorisation of institutions:

a) the Legal Entity of Public Law – Education Management Information System, within the governance sphere of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, shall, for the purpose of the primary registration of institutions, create the relevant electronic system not later than 1 July 2022 (hereinafter – the electronic registration system);

b) an institution that, before 1 July 2022, carries out activities in the form of an early upbringing and education institution and/or a preschool upbringing and education institution and that wishes to obtain the status of an early upbringing and education institution and/or a preschool upbringing and education institution, shall be obliged to undergo primary registration in the electronic registration system from 1 July 2022 until 1 January 2023;

b¹) an individual entrepreneur who provides early upbringing and education services and/or preschool upbringing and education services and who wishes to obtain the status of an early upbringing and education institution and/or a preschool upbringing and education institution, shall be obliged to undergo primary registration in the electronic registration system by 31 March 2023 inclusive;

c) an institution/individual entrepreneur providing early upbringing and education services and/or an individual entrepreneur providing preschool upbringing and education services registered in accordance with subparagraph „b“ or „b¹“ of this paragraph shall be obliged to submit a self-assessment to the Centre not later than 1 January 2024 in accordance with the temporary rule. At the same time, the said individual entrepreneur shall be obliged, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, to found a legal entity before 1 January 2024 in accordance with Article 13 of this Law;

d) on the basis of a proposal prepared by the Centre as a result of the analysis of the self-assessments submitted in accordance with subparagraph „c“ of this paragraph, the schedule for the passage of authorisation by the legal entities registered in accordance with subparagraph „b“ of this paragraph and founded on the basis of subparagraph „c“ of the same paragraph shall be approved by order of the Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia not later than 1 October 2024.

9¹. Based on a proposal prepared by the Centre as a result of the analysis of the self-assessments submitted in accordance with subparagraph „c“ of paragraph 9 of this Article, no later than 1 October 2024, the schedule for obtaining the right to implement the preschool upbringing and education programme/school readiness programme by legal entities registered in accordance with subparagraph „b“ of paragraph 9 of this Article shall be approved by order of the Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia.

10. The rules for the operation of the electronic registration system provided for by subparagraph „a“ of paragraph 9 of this Article shall be approved by Resolution of the Government of Georgia.

11. Registration in the electronic registration system provided for by subparagraph „b“ or „b1“ of paragraph 9 of this Article shall be considered as grounds for the respective institution/individual entrepreneur providing early upbringing and education services and/or individual entrepreneur providing preschool upbringing and education services to exercise activities in the field of early upbringing and education and/or preschool upbringing and education, taking into account the schedule determined by subparagraph „d“ of paragraph 9 of this Article/paragraph 9¹ of this Article, until the relevant decision is taken by the Council for Authorisation of Early and Preschool Upbringing and Education Institutions in respect of the said institution.

12. If an institution/individual entrepreneur providing early upbringing and education services and/or an individual entrepreneur providing preschool upbringing and education services fails to submit a self-assessment within the period determined by subparagraph „c“ of paragraph 9 of this Article, or the said individual entrepreneur fails to establish a legal entity, or fails to submit an authorisation application/an application for obtaining the right to implement the preschool upbringing and education programme/school readiness programme within the period established by the schedule determined by subparagraph „d“ of the same paragraph/paragraph 9¹ of this Article, his/her right to exercise activities in the field of early upbringing and education and/or preschool upbringing and education shall be revoked.

13. An institution which, before 1 July 2022, did not carry out activities in the form of an early upbringing and education institution and/or a preschool upbringing and education institution and which wishes to obtain the status of an early upbringing and education institution and/or a preschool upbringing and education institution shall, during the transitional period, undergo authorisation in accordance with the temporary rules. These rules shall apply, during the transitional period, to the submission by an institution of a re-authorisation application (in the event of refusal of authorisation) or a new authorisation application (in the event of an additional wish to obtain the status of an early upbringing and education institution or a preschool upbringing and education institution), or to the revocation of the institution's right to carry out activities in the case provided for by paragraph 12 of this Article.

14. During the transition period, a decision on the authorization of an institution shall be adopted by the Council for Authorization of Early and Preschool Upbringing and Education Institutions (hereinafter – the Authorization Council). Members of the Authorization Council shall be appointed and dismissed by the Prime Minister of Georgia on the recommendation of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia. The activities of the members of the Authorization Council shall not be remunerated. The powers and rules of procedure of the Authorization Council shall be determined by the temporary rule.

15. The Authorization Council, in accordance with the temporary rule, shall adopt one of the following decisions:

a) on granting authorization;

b) on refusal of authorization;

c) on termination of authorization;

d) on suspension of authorization;

e) on obtaining the right to implement the preschool upbringing and education program/school readiness program;

f) on deprivation of the right to implement the preschool upbringing and education program/school readiness program.

16. Compliance with the requirements established by the authorization standards of an institution shall be determined by the temporary rule.

17. In the event of the adoption of a decision on the revocation of the right to carry out activities for an institution, or on refusal of authorization, or on termination of authorization, the legal entity shall be entitled to submit an authorization application to the Center 1 year after the date of revocation of the right to carry out activities or after the adoption of the decision on refusal of authorization or on termination of authorization.

18. A decision on granting authorization or on refusal of authorization shall be adopted within 180 calendar days from the submission of the authorization application by the institution.

19. During the transition period, the Center shall ensure the implementation of monitoring in accordance with the temporary rule in order to determine the compliance of early upbringing and education services and/or preschool upbringing and education services provided by an authorized institution with the authorization standards. During the transition period, the Center shall also be obliged, at the request of the parents/legal representatives of at least 10 children involved in the upbringing-educational program of the institution, to conduct monitoring of that institution.

20. The bodies provided for by this Law that exercise control over the activities of an institution shall be obliged to provide the Center with information on the results of the control (except for the measures provided for by paragraph 3 of Article 26 of this Law), which is entitled, on the basis of the said information, to conduct monitoring of the institution.

21. A decision on termination of authorization or on suspension of authorization shall be adopted within 90 calendar days from the issuance of an order of the Director of the Center on the inspection of the fulfillment of the authorization conditions by the institution. The running of this term shall be considered suspended during the term set by the Authorization Council for the correction of the relevant defect by the said institution.

22. During the transition period, the Legal Entity of Public Law within the governance sphere of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia – the Education Management Information System shall be obliged, in accordance with the rules of operation of the temporary management information system for early and preschool upbringing and education approved by Resolution of the Government of Georgia, to ensure the administration of the temporary management information system for early and preschool upbringing and education and the accessibility of the said system to municipalities and the centre.

23. The municipality shall be obliged to ensure the publicity of the data received from the temporary management information system for early and preschool upbringing and education in accordance with paragraph 22 of this Article, as well as the accessibility of this data to the Legal Entity of Public Law − the National Statistics Office of Georgia.

24. During the transition period, in the event of the institution passing authorisation, the 6-year term of authorisation of the institution provided for by Article 16 of this Law shall be counted from the date of the said institution passing authorisation.

25. During the transition period, it may be established on a temporary basis that the ratio of educator-pedagogues/educators to children differs from that defined by Article 22 of this Law.

Law of Georgia of 23 March 2017 No. 493 – website, 27.03.2017.

Law of Georgia of 20 September 2018 No. 3449 – website, 09.10.2018.

Law of Georgia of 6 December 2018 No. 3910 – website, 14.12.2018.

Law of Georgia of 30 December 2020 No. 46 – website, 30.12.2020.

Law of Georgia of 15 February 2022 No. 1377 – website, 23.02.2022.

Law of Georgia of 16 December 2022 No. 2435 – website, 27.12.2022.

Law of Georgia of 30 November 2023 No. 3852 – website, 15.12.2023.

Law of Georgia of 15 December 2023 No. 3961 – website, 25.12.2023.

Law of Georgia of 17 December 2025 No. 1274 – website, 18.12.2025.

Article 29. Entry into force of the Law🔗

1. This Law, except Articles 1–27 of this Law, shall enter into force upon publication.

2. Articles 1–14, subparagraphs "a" and "c"–"e" of paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 of Article 15, and Articles 16–19, 21 and 23–27 of this Law shall enter into force from 1 October 2017.

3. Subparagraph "b" of paragraph 1 of Article 15 and Article 22 of this Law shall enter into force from 1 October 2017 with respect to the facility for which a construction permit has been issued in accordance with the procedure established by law after the adoption of the normative act provided for by subparagraph "f" of paragraph 1 of Article 28 of this Law.

4. Subparagraph "b" of paragraph 1 of Article 15 and Article 22 of this Law shall enter into force from 1 April 2020 with respect to the facility for which a construction permit has been issued in accordance with the procedure established by law by the time of the adoption of the normative act provided for by subparagraph "f" of paragraph 1 of Article 28 of this Law.

5. Article 20 of this Law shall enter into force from 1 April 2018.

Law of Georgia No. 493 of 23 March 2017 – website, 27.03.2017

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili

Kutaisi,

8 June 2016

No. 5366-IIs