By the decision of the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, a Ukrainian-language sector has been established on the premises of the public school N20 of Batumi, where Ukrainian students will have the opportunity to receive general education in their mother tongue.

The Ukrainian-speaking sector was opened by the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli, who addressed the audience and personally congratulated the Ukrainian students and teachers on the establishment of the new sector.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli: “Today is a truly historic day - in our beloved city of Batumi, a Ukrainian-language sector is opening on the premises of the public school N20, where Ukrainian students have the capability to continue their studies in their native language, according to the Ukrainian curriculum.

Moreover, owing to the decision of the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili, the Ukrainian sector was already established in Tbilisi and is currently being operated successfully and uninterrupted. I am pleased, that starting from today, the Ukrainian students who reside currently in Batumi, will have this wonderful opportunity, to continue their studies and receive education in Ukrainian, their native language.

The Ministry of Education and Science continues to work actively to provide quality education to Ukrainian children living in Georgia. We have selected the best teachers who have arrived in Georgia, who are highly qualified, are competent in their field, and have a vast experience in teaching the Ukrainian language.

Students of the Ukrainian-speaking sector will learn from the exact same textbooks with which they studied in Ukraine. It is important that each student is already provided with the relevant subject textbooks.

I would like to wholeheartedly wish our Ukrainian sisters and brothers the best, and I long for peace in Ukraine, so that these brave people can return to their homeland soon.  We will do our best to ensure that your children in Georgia receive a quality education in a safe and healthy environment.

Congratulations to everyone on this historic day! I wish success and progress to every teacher, student, and the entire team of the school!”

The event was attended by the Charge d'Affaires of Ukraine, Andriy Kasyanov, who thanked the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli, the Government of Georgia and the Georgian people for their support of the Ukrainian people.

Andriy Kasyanov: "This is a unique opportunity for Ukrainian children to better integrate with our friendly Georgian people and receive quality general education. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Georgia, the Prime Minister, Irakli Gharibashvili and my friend the Minister of Education and Science, Mikheil Chkhenkeli for providing educational opportunities for Ukrainian children in their mother tongue. We are convinced once again that the Georgian government stands by the Ukrainian people in these difficult times and helps us as much as possible in the face of Russian aggression."

Tamar Makharashvili - First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Maia Khajishvili - Minister of Education, Culture and Sports of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Archil Chikovani - the Mayor of Batumi,  and Davit Batsikadze - Chairman of the Committee on Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Supreme Council of Adjara also attended the event.

Batumi Public School N20 offers educational, medical and psychological services to Georgian and Ukrainian students in a safe and encouraging learning environment. Up to 100 students have already expressed their desire to study in the Ukrainian-speaking sector of Batumi. By the end of the current academic year, students between the grades I-IV will study in the Ukrainian-speaking sector, and from September, students of all levels will have the opportunity to receive general education.

The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, selected qualified and competent teachers. The teachers already arrived in Georgia from Ukraine after the events of February 24. It should be noted, that the Government of Georgia provides remuneration for Ukrainian teachers in accordance with the hourly workload of the National Curriculum. In addition, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia will take care of the professional development of teachers employed in the Ukrainian-speaking sector.

Students of the Ukrainian language sector of the 20^th public school in Batumi will study both compulsory and optional subjects within the formal curriculum. In addition to Ukrainian subjects, children will study Georgian language and literature and the subject "Our Georgia". Activities in the field of educational and non-formal education will also be planned for them.

The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia provided all students with the necessary textbooks and books for education. Ukrainian students, like their Georgian peers, will benefit from the preferential terms of the mobile internet package in accordance with the agreement signed between the Ministry and the Georgian mobile operators. Furthermore, the students will also have the opportunity, if they wish, to take part in the competitions announced by the Ministry.

According to the decision of the Government of Georgia, students who, as a result of the war in Ukraine, are unable to continue their general education at Ukrainian schools and express a desire to continue their education in Georgia, are enrolled in schools in an expedited manner. According to the available data, more than 800 students of different age groups have already been enrolled in Tbilisi and the regions. The Ukrainian sector in Tbilisi was officially opened on April 11 this year.