Georgian Dream Announces Major School Reform Focused on 'National Values' and Uniform Standards
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
The Georgian Dream government unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the general education system on December 2, proposing measures that include mandatory school uniforms for younger students, a ban on mobile phones during class, a transition to 11 years of compulsory schooling, and the introduction of single state-approved textbooks for all public schools.
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze opened the event by stressing the need to strengthen basic education. "If a student does not acquire at their school desk the knowledge and skills that will later be needed in their professional life, the system as a whole cannot be successful," he said. He added that the government had placed "particular attention" on reshaping general education before ceding the stage to GD Education Minister Givi Mikanadze.
Mikanadze said the existing system is burdened by outdated policies. He argued that the current national goals, adopted in 2004, are "entirely filled with liberal values" and fail to support the development of students with "state responsibility and adequate competitiveness." The updated education strategy introduced by the Georgian Dream government is anchored in "national values" and a "patriotic spirit."
The new national goals emphasize cultural self-awareness, the preservation of national identity, respect for the Georgian language and history, critical thinking, civic consciousness, and healthy development.
The reform would reorganize schools into three levels: primary for grades 1 to 6, lower secondary for grades 7 to 9, and upper secondary for grades 10 and 11. Addressing criticism over shortening mandatory schooling, Mikanadze said, "Eleven years will be sufficient for providing our youth with a high-quality general education." The 12th grade will remain optional with annual enrollment in March.
The minister said the final mandatory year will become profile-based and exam-oriented through a new "repetitorium" designed to prepare students for university entrance exams without private tutoring. "This will ease the financial burden on families," he said.
Over the next two to three years, all schools will adopt unified textbooks prepared by expert teams. "There will no longer be different textbooks," Mikanadze said. "There will be a unified approach in all schools, a unified standard, and unified quality."
The ministry plans to expand extracurricular programs, including a values-based project launched with the Georgian Patriarchate. Mikanadze said students in participating schools are taught "love for their homeland, life values, and friendship."
Enrollment rules will tighten next year so that only children who turn six by September 15 can enter first grade. The ministry also plans to introduce residence-based school placement in major cities and to establish career guidance centers.
Teacher development is another central pillar. "Pedagogy will be transformed into a field of the highest academic level," Mikanadze said, noting that a new career advancement scheme is scheduled for approval in January 2026.
To support a more focused learning environment, mobile phones will be banned during class hours. "It is important for us to ensure students' focus and full engagement," he said, adding that specific regulations will follow. The ministry will also introduce mandatory uniforms for grades 1 to 6 next academic year.
Mikanadze said the ministry plans to review funding models and increase outreach to parents. He argued that the reforms will "fundamentally change the teaching and learning process" and strengthen the country's future.
The announcement comes shortly after Georgian Dream approved a new higher education concept that critics say threatens academic freedom and hinders those who want to continue their graduate studies in Western countries, where 12 years of secondary education is the international standard.
