The minister explained the increase in students in Russian-speaking schools and sectors by the influx of refugees from Ukraine

Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Mikheil Chkhenkeli answered the questions of the MPs in the manner of interpellation.

According to Mikhail Chkhenkeli, at this stage there are 11 Russian-language schools and 45 sectors across the country. The Minister noted that compared to last year, as of November 2022, the number of students studying in Russian-speaking schools and sectors has increased.

According to Chkhenkeli, students from Ukraine are given the opportunity to continue their education in different languages, which has increased the number of those wishing to continue their education in the Russian-speaking sector, and this does not mean an increase in the number of Russian-language schools and sectors.

“At this stage, we have 11 Russian-language schools and 45 sectors across the country. In addition, I inform you that not a single new Russian-speaking private educational institution was accredited in 2020-2022,” Chkhenkeli said.

The Minister noted that as of May 2021, the number of students studying in Russian-speaking schools and sectors was 14,222 people, and as of November 2022 – 16,042 people.

“It should be noted that the increase in the contingent of Russian-language schools and sectors by 1,820 students is mainly due to the entry of persons who cannot continue to receive general education on the territory of Ukraine as a result of hostilities in Ukraine after February 24, 2022,” Mikhail Chkhenkeli said.

The Minister of Education said that last academic year, by the decision of the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, Ukrainian-language sectors were opened in Tbilisi School No. 41 and Batumi School No. 20, and for the 2022-2023 academic year, another Ukrainian-language sector appeared in Tbilisi School No. 220 sector.

“Along with all this, students from Ukraine, of their own free will, are still given the opportunity to continue their education in different languages ​​in public and private educational institutions of Georgia, both in Georgian, Ukrainian and Russian, and in other languages ​​of their choice. That is why the number of those wishing to continue their education in the Russian-speaking sector has increased, which does not mean an increase in the number of Russian-speaking schools and sectors,” said Mikhail Chkhenkeli.