Parliament Speaker: Unable to achieve anything themselves, opposition parasitises on government decisions

The decision to permit secondary university enrollments is a one-off measure aimed at ensuring higher education reform remains primarily student-focused, the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, has said.

Papuashvili accused opposition figures of attempting to claim credit for state policies.

“Generally speaking, since they fail to win in any arena, the only thing left for them is to parasitise on the decisions of others and declare them as their own victory. I have no idea what competition or confrontation they think they were engaged in, or what victory they are claiming at all. We are implementing a major educational reform across both general and higher education. A transformation of this magnitude, unprecedented in Georgia’s history, demands daily oversight and prompt, pragmatic decision-making. That is precisely what the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education delivered when, based on the examination and enrollment results, secondary admissions were granted as an exception.

Every year, there are several hundred, sometimes up to a thousand, applicants who pass the minimum competency threshold but fail to secure a university place because others performed better. That has always been the case and will continue to be; some applicants will inevitably find that their test results do not align with their preferences. That is simply a natural part of the examination process and higher education entry. However, in this instance, given the restructuring of degree programs across universities, applicants may have experienced some confusion regarding their choices. Consequently, they have been allowed to reconsider their options and select a university where vacant places remain during this secondary clearing phase.

Therefore, this is an exceptional, one-off decision designed to ensure that higher education reform advances in a manner that puts students first. If specific circumstances caused uncertainty for them, we are providing the opportunity to reconsider and adjust their university choices,” Papuashvili stated.

The ruling follows yesterday’s announcement that 1,795 university applicants who have passed the minimum threshold at national examinations will be allowed to participate in a secondary clearing process this year, by way of exception.