The Ministry of Education has initiated a draft law proposing to extend the authorization period for early and preschool education and training institutions from four to six years.
According to the explanatory note, the amendment aims to reduce the administrative burden on preschool institutions and allow the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE) to focus its resources on the goals of the ongoing reform. The reform is expected to save the state budget at least GEL 6 million.
Under the current legislation, preschool education institutions are authorized for a four-year period. The new six-year term will align preschool institutions with other educational levels:
- General education institutions – 9 years (based on duration of study);
- Vocational and higher education institutions – 6 years;
- Early and preschool education institutions – 6 years (proposed).
The Ministry notes that the extended term will increase the effectiveness of the authorization process as an external quality assurance mechanism, consistent with the duration of study.
The proposed change is directly tied to the ongoing reform of Georgia’s early childhood and preschool education system, which requires 2,050 institutions to complete authorization by the end of 2029.
If the current four-year term were maintained, the NCEQE would need to conduct about 400 administrative proceedings annually, demanding substantial financial and human resources. Extending the term to six years will enable the Center to better concentrate resources on completing the initial authorization process.
The reform will also have a positive fiscal effect, as the authorization process—funded entirely by the state, is free for both private and public kindergartens. Currently, the budget allocates an average of GEL 5,000– GEL 7,000 per institution for authorization.
By extending the re-authorization period, the government expects to save at least GEL 6 million over six years starting in 2029.
