Education minister: school uniforms will be mandatory for primary pupils in all public schools

Georgia's Education Minister Givi Mikanadze has stated wearing school uniforms will become compulsory for primary school pupils in all public schools from the new academic year, with disciplinary measures available for breaches of school regulations.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mikanadze said parents enrolling their children in public schools agree to comply with each school's internal regulations, which will now require primary school students to wear a standard uniform.

He said that if parents refuse to dress their children in the required uniform, schools will be able to apply educational and disciplinary measures under their internal rules.

"The wearing of school uniforms by primary school pupils will be mandatory, and this will apply across all public schools," Mikanadze said.

The minister added he had discussed the initiative during meetings with more than 10,000 parents across 26 municipalities over the past four months and claimed the proposal had received broad support.

He argued that the small number of parents publicly opposing the policy might be part of a "targeted campaign" and accused those threatening to send children to school without uniforms of using their children to challenge the new rules.

Mikanadze stressed that the reform is intended to serve the best interests of children and said all measures introduced as part of the education reform were aimed at improving the learning environment and supporting the development of future generations.