Mikheil Chkhenkeli, the candidate nominated for the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, addressed the joint committees of the Parliament, and spoke about the steps taken to promote early, pre-school and general education and introduced the current and future projects to the audience.

The ministerial candidate stressed the importance of supporting the teaching and development of children at an early age, noting that the ministry has developed and introduced "state standards for early and pre-school education" to help preschool teachers better plan their upbringing and education services. Also, programs for the transition of children from kindergarten to school are being developed and implemented, which will facilitate the transition of children from a kindergarten to a school environment.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli emphasized that caring for the health of children is the top priority of the Ministry. For this specific purpose, a special Document on the “opening of kindergartens after the pandemic” was created, which will help to create appropriate sanitary and hygienic conditions for children in care institutions and provide a safe environment.

Moreover, in support of teachers at educational institutions, the Ministerial Candidate noted that, from 2021, universities will commence the implementation of undergraduate teacher education program. At the same time, owing to the initiative of the Ministry, it is planned to determine the salary policy of the educators.

Furthermore, Mikheil Chkhenkeli spoke about the decentralization of schools in terms of the development of the general education system, noting that the ministry's policy is to strengthen the role of general education institutions and give them more autonomy. Simultaneously, the process of introducing a new, third-generation national curriculum is underway, which will help improve teaching-learning methodology and develop critical, complex thinking in students. According to Mikheil Chkhenkeli, it is important for schools to be fully equipped with modern technologies so that young people can receive education relevant to the XXI century. For this purpose, the process of introducing the "Minecraft Education Edition" in public schools throughout Georgia is in progress.

As for creating a safe and non-violent learning environment in schools, the ministerial candidate said that by 2021, resource officers have entered an additional 19 public schools to ensure the safety of students. Moreover, the Resource office across the country is planning to launch a school mediation mechanism and adding social workers. Mikheil Chkhenkeli noted that the psycho-social service center, provided services to both students and teachers remotely and in attendance during the pandemic, and that the 24-hour hotline of psychological assistance continuous to operate uninterrupted even today.

Additionally, the Ministerial candidate underlined the continuous involvement of national minorities in the educational process, saying that several crucial measures are planned for the integration of representatives of national minorities, including the development of bilingual human capital, which will raise national standards in preschools.

It is important to note that at the initiative of the Ministry, the “State Program for Monitoring Children Left Out of School” was approved, which revealed the data of children left out of school based on this observation. In parallel with the data processing, a different curriculum was created for the children left out of school, and the program will pilot in 2021.

Minister candidate Mikheil Chkhenkeli, also noted that a distance learning course in the Georgian language will be available to members of Georgian diaspora, and several important measures are planned in the coming future, to promote inclusive education and raise awareness in this regard.

Likewise, a new standard for school principal’s office has already been developed and it is planned to introduce differentiated approaches to school management in accordance with this legislation.

It should be noted that over the next four years, budget funding for general education will increase significantly, including the increase in remuneration of teachers and school administrative personnel.