How many grades are there in the mandatory study program?

Elementary and Basic education covering I-IX grades is mandatory.

How many children should be in the class?

In general educational institutions, the maximum number of children in one group is 30. The exceptions are made in agreement with the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. In which case, the maximum number of children shall not exceed 35.

The maximum number of children for the first graders who will go to school in 2014-2015 academic years and for each following generation was defined as 25 pupils. The exceptions will be made on the basis of written agreement with the Ministry of Education and Science, however, the maximum number will not exceed 29.

What are the subjects, where the class can be split and what should be the number of children in each division?

The classes can be split in the following subjects: Georgian language and literature, foreign languages, IT and communication technologies, provided that the school has relevant financial resources. In case of the Georgian language and literature, the class shall be split only if the number of children in each grade exceeds 25 and in foreign languages, if the number of children is 18 or more.

What are the cases when the classes can be united?

The classes can be united in schools with a small number of children. The number of children in each class shall not exceed 10. In such cases, it is recommended to unite the classes within one grade but no more than two groups. I-IV grades may be structured by various principles (e.g. I-II and III-IV or I-III and II-IV). Several classes may be united in sports, music, fine arts classes (e.g. I, II,  III; IV,V and VI; VII, VIII and IX and etc.).

Is it mandatory for the head teacher to be teaching in his/her class?

In accordance with National Curriculum, all classes in the public school shall have a head teacher who is the teacher of the same school. However, it is not mandatory for the head teacher to be a subject teacher in the class under her/his management.

For what term is the chairman of subject department elected?

The chair is elected by the department for one academic year. One and the same person can be elected three times at a row.

Do the private schools have right to teach school subjects with a different scheme, including the foreign languages?

Private schools are entitled to teach any subject envisaged in the National Curriculum with a scheme which is different from the one set under the National Study Plan. At the same time, the requirement of the article 40(4) of the National Study Plan regarding tuition of foreign languages does not apply to private schools. Respectively, the private schools do not need permission from the Ministry of Education and Science for starting the foreign language from certain grades. 

Does the public school have right to start teaching the second foreign language before the 5^th grade?

The school is authorized, as an exception, in agreement with the Ministry, start teaching the second foreign language from any grades. Herewith, the school shall present to the Ministry the decisions and protocols of the School Pedagogical Council and the Supervisory Board, parents’ application, hourly net, the list of tuition resources and information about material and human resources.

Is it mandatory for a pupil to fulfill all summarizing tasks?

National Study Plan defines the minimum number of summarizing tasks to be conducted during the quarter.  The pupil shall be obliged to fulfill all summarizing tasks conducted in the class (mandatory minimum defined under the National Study Plan and additionally defined by the school (if any). If the pupil fails to fulfill the task due to absence from school, the school shall give the child opportunity to restore the summarizing tasks the child has missed.  The new deadline or form for conducting the test shall be defined in accordance with the School Study Plan.

In what case the grade is regarded as passed?

The grade will be deemed passed if the child’s annual score for each subject (rounded up) is 5.0 or more and the child has received credit in certain subjects defined by the National Study Plan (sport, road signs and transport safety), after which, the child is moved to the next grade.

In what cases, can the child pass extra exam if s/he has non-attendance records?

If the child has not attended 30% or more of lessons allocated for the basic-secondary stages during the year, the child shall be evaluated for eligibility for the extra exam.

In what cases, the semester exam can be appointed?

The semester exam is appointed only in cases where the child thinks that s/he deserved a higher evaluation. The child’s parent/legal representative shall apply to the school director with a written request to appoint a semester exam. The director will review the issue and make decision about admitting or not admitting the child to the semester exam. If the application is rejected, the decision shall be justified.

If the child is allowed to pass the semester exam, the school shall take all necessary measures to ensure an objective and unbiased evaluation of the exam results.

The score for the semester exam in the particular subject shall be calculated in this way: semester exam score shall be added to the semester score of the subject and the sum shall be divided by two. The semester exam is appointed in no later than two weeks after the semester is over.

In what cases, the so called “autumn exam” is appointed?

If the child’s subject score for the academic year is less than 5, the school shall be obliged to appoint an autumn exam in this particular subject. The rule and procedure for conducting such exam is defined by the School Study Plan. The autumn exam shall be conducted no earlier than two weeks after the end of the academic year and no earlier than one week before the beginning of a new academic year. Before the autumn exam, the child shall be given at least two weeks for preparing the subject. The child receives annual evaluation in the subject/subjects based on the autumn exam results (the score received in the autumn exam becomes an annual score in that particular subject).

In what cases is the annual exam appointed?

The decision about appointing or not appointing the annual exam is made by the school. The decision shall be reflected in the school study plan. The school has right to appoint the exam to the class in no more than two subjects in one academic year. At the same time, there should be minimum two-year interval between the exams in one and the same subject  (e.g. if the school appointed an exam in the English language for the VII graders, the next exam shall be appointed only after two years). The annual exam can be appointed only for the basic and/or secondary stages. If the school intends to appoint an annual exam in the subject, the decision regarding particular grade/grades and subject/subjects shall be made before the beginning of the academic year. The school shall also define whether the score received in this exam will affect the annual score of the subject. If the school conducts annual exam, it shall be obliged to offer contextual, complex and interesting tasks to the pupils (e.g. essay, report, project, problem solution, fine arts template, etc.). If it is defined under the School Study Plan that the score of the annual exam will affect the annual score of the subject, while calculating the annual score for the subject, the score of the annual exam shall be added to the semester scores of the subject and the sum shall be divided by three.

In what cases the child can move to home learning regime?

The school shall be obliged to move the child to the home learning mode if the child requires more than one month medical treatment and this is confirmed by a duly authorized medical certificate of the medical institution. In such case, the child shall be released from the requirements of the paragraph 2 of this article from the moment s/he is moved to home learning mode.

Children with special educational needs – in cases where the child with special educational needs cannot attend the school due to a health condition, the school shall apply to the multi-disciplinary team for the conclusion, based on which, the child will be able to continue studies at home. In this case, the child remains enrolled in the school but does not attend the classes. The school shall develop a special study plan for the child, by which the child will receive education at home conditions.

What scheme is used for teaching foreign languages?

Public schools:

• The first foreign language is taught in I-XII grades and it is English Language.
• The second foreign language (any language excluding English) is taught in V-XII grades
• Third foreign language as a subject of choice – X-XII grades.
• The public school shall be authorized, as an exception, to start the second foreign language from any grades (including, the primary stage).

Private schools plan the tuition-learning process at their own discretion, including the foreign language studies. They are not required to agree the decision with the Ministry of Education and Science.