“We are taking another step towards correcting injustice. We are confident that by the end of the spring session, amendments will be adopted that will make it possible to restore compulsory teaching of the Georgian language at the undergraduate level,” stated Givi Mikanadze, Chairman of the Parliamentary Education Committee.

According to Mikanadze, mandatory Georgian language study will be introduced in all higher education institutions next year.

“In 2005, when Kakha Lomaia served as the Minister of Education, the Georgian language was removed from the undergraduate curriculum through ministry directives. This was not the sole deliberate action against the Georgian language. Between 2004 and 2007, the State Language Commission under the President was abolished, the State Language Subcommittee in Parliament was eliminated, the Language Chamber was dissolved, and the hours allocated for Georgian language and literature in public schools were reduced.

The removal of Georgian language teaching at the undergraduate level further compounded these actions. The Law on the State Language remained undiscussed.

Our government first enacted the Law on the State Language, and subsequently, Iakob Gogebashvili’s Mother Tongue was reintegrated into the educational process. Now, we are taking another step towards correcting this injustice as we commence discussions. We are confident that by the end of the spring session, amendments will be adopted that will enable the restoration of compulsory teaching of the Georgian language at the undergraduate level, and these changes will come into force from September 1. This guarantees that starting next year, all higher education institutions will introduce compulsory teaching of the Georgian language,” Givi Mikanadze noted.

Mandatory Georgian language teaching will be reinstated in higher education institutions. The proposed amendments are incorporated into the Law on Higher Education. The Committee on Education, Science and Youth Affairs is commencing its deliberations with the first reading. The teaching of the Georgian language has not been compulsory in higher education institutions since 2005. Currently, the obligation to teach the native language in universities applies only to the Faculty of Philology, while in other fields, it is listed as an elective subject. The legislative proposal originates from Tbilisi State University professors Nana Machavariani and Giorgi Gogolashvili.