Georgia to reintroduce mandatory school uniforms, set age for school entry, roll out new textbooks, minister

From the next academic year, all public schools in Georgia will reintroduce mandatory school uniforms for students in grades one through six on a trial basis, Education Minister Givi Mikanadze announced during the presentation of the General Education Reform on Tuesday.

Mikanadze said that socially disadvantaged families will receive state support to obtain the uniforms. “We have decided that, in a trial mode, from the next academic year, all public schools will require school uniforms for students from first to sixth grade. At the same time, we are taking into account socially vulnerable families. All families assessed by the Ministry of Health with a score of 60,000 or less will receive appropriate state support for uniforms,” he said.

The minister also clarified that starting next year, children will be eligible to enter school only if they turn six years old by September 15 of the relevant year. Mikanadze explained that children under six face challenges integrating fully into the educational process due to their social-emotional readiness. “Therefore, given the transition to an 11-year education system, we have decided that from next year, children will be allowed to start school only if they turn six by September 15 of that year,” he said.

Additionally, Mikanadze announced that completely new textbooks will be developed over the next two to three years. The Ministry has selected expert groups for each subject through a competitive process over the past six months. “Within a systemic and renewable resources framework, entirely new textbooks will be written over the next two to three years. The Ministry has selected expert groups by discipline, taking responsibility for producing these textbooks. They will follow a unified standard: one textbook per subject for all schools. This will ensure a consistent approach, uniform quality, accessibility to the educational process, and measurable outcomes,” Mikanadze added.