The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia has been implementing “Program of the Provision for Pupils with Textbooks” since 2013. Within the program, free textbooks are provided for:
- All students of Georgian public schools;
- Students of private schools whose families are below the poverty line;
- Children of soldiers deceased in the war of August 2008;
- Students of those private schools, who used to study in general education facilities before the privatization of the school.
Like last year, for the academic year of 2015-2016, students will receive the packages of books that include textbooks that are evaluated with high scores. First graders will also receive the combined packages of new and old textbooks. As it was in previous years, all first graders will receive personal portable computers as a gift.
Now, stocktaking of delivered textbooks is finished and majority of them are useable. This happened due to several factors: in comparison with previous years, in 2013-2014 the quality of paper and safety of dye was improved. Also, all textbooks for the first grade are printed by using special modern printing paper, which stands out by its lightness and durability. Accordingly, it is easier for students to use them and more difficult to wear them out. Also, it is worth mentioning that culture of using books has been significantly increased among students. The facts of ill-treatment of books are rarely discovered. As a result, the most of the books this year have been evaluated with high scores.
The quality will be also maintained this year and all new textbooks that are published this year will be printed according to high polygraph standards. This year, the price of textbooks that have to be printed and purchased is approximately five and half million.