Due to the spread of the new Corona virus (COVID - 19) - officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday, many sporting events around the world have been postponed or cancelled indefinitely.

The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia - Mikheil Chkhenkeli held a meeting with rectors of higher education institutions authorized in Georgia and introduced them to the decisions of the Interagency Council on the new Coronavirus.

According to the decision of the Interagency Council on Coronavirus, led by the Prime Minister, the holidays at the educational institutions were prolonged until April 1.

The acting Interagency Council, led by the Prime Minister of Georgia, decided to extend holidays until April 1, in an effort to continue to battle the spread of New Coronavirus.

The winners of the Translated Play 2020 competition, founded by Mikheil Tumanishvili Foundation were as follows:

In line with the new Coronavirus prevention measures, intensive disinfection of cultural sites continues.

Disinfection works were carried out in museums, theaters, rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, wardrobes and inventory was processed with special antibacterial solutions.

Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia - Tamar Kitiashvili held a working meeting with the Director of the French Institute - Pierre Cluet and representatives of the Embassy of France to discuss new opportunities for partnership with France in the field of vocational education.

Intensive disinfection works are continuing in public and private schools of Georgia for prevention of the new COVID-19 virus.

At this point, total disinfection has already taken place in more than 1800 public and more than 150 private schools.

The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia - Mikheil Chkhenkeli hosted the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Georgia - Kelly Degnan. The meeting was attended by the US Embassy Cultural Attaché - Julius Tsai.

I would like to particularly congratulate the women working in the field of education, science, culture and sport in Georgia.

Deputy Ministers of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Tamar Kitiashvili and Ekaterine Dgebuadze held a meeting with representatives of resource centers.

Due to the disinfection activities in place for general and higher education institutions for the prevention and spread of coronavirus, the first stage of certification testing of public school principals has been temporarily postponed and will not take place on 06 and 07 March 2020 (see Order # 334).