Education Minister: School uniforms for first-graders to be sold at retail outlets until September 14

The purpose of creating an online platform for purchasing school uniforms is to make uniforms more accessible to parents, Georgia’s Minister of Education, Science and Youth Givi Mikanadze said.

According to the minister, school uniforms for first-grade students will be available at retail outlets from September 1 through September 14.

“The fact that the 21st century is connected with digital technologies is no longer a discovery for anyone. Accordingly, online purchases are becoming increasingly popular in our society every day. The main purpose of creating this platform is to make access to school uniforms easier for the public.

“At the same time, as we have already announced, and I will repeat once again, at least one retail outlet will be opened in every municipality and city across Georgia. Information about this has already been published and made public. Communication is also underway to ensure that parents have more information about it.

“They will have the opportunity to purchase uniforms both at retail outlets and through the platform. First-grade students’ uniforms will be sold at retail outlets from September 1 through September 14. Starting September 15, those who miss the deadline or wish to purchase an additional item will have to use the online platform only,” Mikanadze said.

The minister also said that customers would benefit from cashback offers provided by banks.

“One of the important components of both the online platform and retail sales is that several banks have introduced cashback policies, with different offers from different banks. Customers can choose how they wish to make their purchase. We negotiated with banks to provide certain benefits.

“Through the cashback policy, the public will receive even greater benefits, as they will be able to purchase the uniforms at a relatively lower cost than the established tariff, which is not profit-oriented,” Mikanadze said.

Mikanadze also said that another category of families had recently been added to the list of those eligible to receive school uniforms free of charge.

“With the support of the Prime Minister, we amended the relevant government decree several days ago. A new category was added to the list of beneficiaries eligible for free uniforms: families with a social rating score between 65,001 and 120,001 points that have the status of a large family and have children studying from first through sixth grade.

“In such families, boys from first through sixth grade will receive one jacket and two pairs of trousers free of charge, while girls will receive one jacket, one skirt and one pair of trousers,” Mikanadze said.