In the 2024-2025 academic year, children who will turn 6 years old before December 1 can register for the first grade. Amendments to the Law of Georgia “On General Education” were discussed at the government meeting on 9 October.
From the 2025-2026 school year, if parents wish, children who are 6 years old from the day after the start of their studies until December 31 can enter the first grade. According to the government’s decision, children born from the day after the start of the 2024-2025 academic year to December 1 will have the right, as they wish, to continue preschool education or register as first graders. This decision will also apply to children born from September 16 to December 31 of the 2025-2026 academic year.
“There has ben a lot of interest from the public, including a lot of support from parents in recent years. We started to change this issue two years ago, and every year we extend the period before which children can be admitted to school by one month. As a result of consultation with specialists in the field, and parents, we believe that the most correct, objective watershed is December 31, including those who have turned 6 years old.
“This change is voluntary, therefore if the parent or guardian considers that the child is not ready for school at that age, naturally, he can leave the child in kindergarten and bring him to school a year later. And those who consider that the child is already ready for school should make the decision themselves. We will give this opportunity to all children who turn 6 years old before the first of December.” – said the Minister of Education, Giorgi Amilakhvari.
By Mariam Gorkhelashvili
