Georgian students to launch protest centre over education system concerns

A new student-led protest centre is set to be established on Wednesday, with its first gathering planned outside the Ministry of Education in capital Tbilisi.

Organisers said the initiative aims to create a space where students can voice concerns over the state of the education system, discussing its problems and challenges.

The first protest is scheduled on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Ministry of Education.

In a statement, organisers expressed their determination to stand against what they described as the collapse of the education system and attempts to suppress independent thought.

“Each of us is fighting for a free, fair and dignified country, where education is a priority, where students and academic staff are not blackmailed, but rather listened to and valued for their critical views,” the event description reads.

“We are not going to turn a blind eye to how the education system is collapsing and how they are trying to deprive the next generation of independent thinking, freedom and the opportunity to form a critical view. Overthrow the regime, freedom for the captives!”

Georgia has been engulfed in protests over the past three years due to actions taken by the Georgian Dream government. The authorities’ decision late last year to delay EU integration until 2028 further sparked continuous demonstrations.