Education and Science Infrastructure Development Agency of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia carried out rehabilitation in 2013-2016 and other activities in 26 schools of border regions of Zugdidi, Kareli, Gori, Tsalenjikha, Oni and Sachkhere, as well as fully rehabilitated Atotsi Public School.

With the support of “Millennium Challenge Account - Georgia”, full rehabilitation was carried out through the modern standards of public schools in Tkviavi, Shindisi, Pkhvenisi, Sakasheti, Zerta and Kheltubani. Arrangement of school with furniture and technique is being continued. Natural sciences laboratories will also be arranged by funding of the Account.

Summer camps

In 2017, up to 60 streams, in total 11 000 school pupils will go to the camp in seven different locations (Anaklia, Manavi, Kachreti, Salibauri (Adjara), Batumi, Kutaisi and Tskneti). Pupils of different categories, of 7th, 8th and 9th grades, including pupils living in the occupied territories are resting in the camp.

Funding of students

Every year the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia has a social program for funding of students.

The amount and terms of funding within the framework of the Social Program for the 2016-2017 academic years were determined by the Decree No. 310 of the Government of Georgia, July 7, 2016.

Within the framework of the social program, 206 students got State Grant for study, which were studying in the general educational institutions of the occupied territories of Georgia. From here:

92 students from the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, including Adjara Municipality and 114 students from the Tskhinvali region (territories of the former South Ossetian Autonomous region), including Kurti, Eredvi and Akhalgori municipalities. 166 students were also funded, who studied and received a document certifying full general education in the general education institution located in the border villages of the occupied territories.

Within the framework of “Study funding program of the affected students in the villages adjacent to the demarcation line” approved by Decree N963 of December 12, 2016 and Decree N121 of January 27, 2017 of the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia in the adjacent villages of demarcation line 906 affected students of the 2016-2017 academic years in the first semester were funded and in the second-882 students at Bachelor and Master higher educational programs.

Previous years:

In 2013 - 548 students, in 2014 - 727 students and in 2015 - 914 students were funded.

Dormitory

Students from the border villages (Zugdidi University and Senaki Vocational College) are provided with students' dormitory.

Increase of funding

The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia carries out the program "Financial Assistance for Teachers and Administrative-Technical Personnel of Occupied Regions" in accordance with the law on the annual state budget.

In addition, compared to last year, the allocations under this program were increased by 747.0 thousand GEL and amounted to 3.1 million GEL.

As a result of this increase, the salaries of the director, administration, technical staff and teachers were increased.

Trainings for teachers

In 2017, 254 teachers of the public school of villages located near the border of occupied territories of Georgia have undergone subject trainings for professional development of teachers. They have also participated in trainings and consultations for members of the internal assessment groups of school.

The new project "Improving pedagogical practice together" was carried out by the support of EC Confidence Building Unit in 2015-2016, where from the side of Georgia the National Center for Teacher Professional Development and the Institute for the Study of Nationalism and Conflicts (ISNC) from non-governmental sector were involved in the project. Abkhazian, Georgian and teachers living at the occupied territory (Gali) participated in the project.

We hereby inform you that the center regularly supplies the teachers living on the occupied territories with different educational resources. In 2016 by cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science, LEPL National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement gave to IDP Women's Association "Tanadgoma" subject model lessons in order to transfer them in future to the teachers of public schools of Gali region.

In 2015, professional development trainings of teachers (mathematics, physics, biology, primary education, Georgian language and literature, Russian language, history) were carried out by the Center for teachers of public schools of Occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia at the Tbilisi Teacher's House, Tbilisi Public Schools and Zugdidi. In the course of the training, teachers were given training materials and publications issued by the Center. It should be noted that trainings were organized for about 200 teachers, but due to the situation near the occupation border, a large part of them failed to cross the border. The teachers were forced to hide the purpose of leaving the occupied border.

(In 2013 and in 2014) - by EC support the project/trainings - “Teacher training seminar on foreign languages learning” was carried out the target group of which were: 1. Teachers of foreign languages from Sokhumi, Gali and other regions of Georgia (mostly from the adjacent regions of the occupied territories) and 2. Teachers from Tskhinvali region, from the villages adjacent to the occupied territory and from the settlements of internally displaced persons. The aim of the training was to promote confidence building through the dialogue of professionals. The National Center for Teacher Professional Development participated in the selection of Georgian teachers for this project.

In 2014 - LEPL National Center for Teacher Professional Development carried out professional development trainings and long term training courses in various subject areas (public, aesthetic, natural sciences, foreign languages) for 154 teachers of the public school of the villages located near the border of the occupied territories of Georgia. Trainings were held in Tbilisi, Gori, Kaspi, Tchiatura, Sachkhere and Zugdidi. It should be noted that some of the invited teachers in 2014 failed to attend the trainings due to the complication of border control by the Russian occupation troops.

In 2013, the following trainings were conducted for 29 teachers of Akhalgori municipality public schools (Ikoti, Korinta, Balaani, Akhmadji and Zemo Boli) of LEPL National Center for Teacher Professional Development:

• Planning of the learning process and effective strategies of teaching;

• Communication and motivation of pupils;

• Class management and effective management strategies for conflict management.

In the course of the training the teachers were provided with training materials. Subject consultants of the Center provided consultations to teachers of public school of occupied Akhalgori in direction of teaching methodology and academic issues in the subjective context; They were also given educational editions of the Center. In addition, by organization of the Center the teachers visited the National Museum of Georgia.

School bus:

The Ministry provides free school bus service to pupils, including in the occupied regions. About 2030 pupils of about 40 schools are involved in the program.