Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Tamar Sanikidze and Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Tariel Khechikashvili paid a visit to a completely renovated gym at Public School No 18.

The gym that had been in disrepair has been completely refurbished by the Education and Infrastructure Development Agency under the MoES. Presently it is one of the best of its kind in Georgia.  Besides, a special, combined 6 centimeter vinyl sports flooring by Gerflor was used, as was the case at Baku and Tbilisi 2015 European Olympic Games. Bathrooms (including for special Educational needs children) and locker rooms meet Euro standards.

It should be noted that pupils at public School No 18 are actively involved in sports activities and they have won numerous championships. Georgian National Football Team player Jaba Kankava is a graduate of this school. Consequently, the new gym will enable the pupils to gain more victories for their school.

It is also of importance that in accordance with a new national curriculum, more academic hours will be devoted to sports at the beginner level. “Physical Education and Sports” lessons will be taught and three academic hours in a week instead of two academic hours will be devoted to them, with special focus on kinesthetic games.

The Ministry also furthers an appropriate development of sports at schools through implementation of infrastructural projects.  In the course of 2013-2015 the Education and Infrastructure Development Agency carried out renovation works of 87 gyms. 10,164,509 GEL was spent on them. Besides, renovation works of 22 sports grounds were also implemented; their cost stands at 1, 887,738 GEL.

Apart from the renovation of the gym, there were also other infrastructural projects implemented at Public School No 18, where 714 pupils are enrolled.  Medical Offices were introduced, lightening system underwent a thorough change, and renovation works of the Swedish wall and heating system were implemented. A suitable environment has been created at this school for special education needs pupils. There are 13 special education needs pupils there, and 2 special educational needs teachers. It is also of importance that renovation works of the classrooms were implemented by the Education and Infrastructure Development Agency towards “School Readiness Programme”. Pupils will master the programme in these renovated classrooms.