The Georgian Parliament has again returned a legislative initiative on introducing free meals in public schools to its initiators, citing deficiencies in the bill. The amendments to the Law on General Education, signed by at least 25,000 voters, were discussed at today’s Bureau meeting but were not referred to committees. Instead, they were returned based on a conclusion from the Parliamentary Budget Office.
According to Budget Office head Andria Gvidiani, the bill contains several inconsistencies with the Law on Normative Acts and needs to be revised. The Bureau made a similar decision on September 21, when the Budget Office said the bill lacked the mandatory financial justification, including specific financial data and estimated costs.
The initiative group includes Akaki Chikobava, Ana Kamladze, Giorgi Kartvelishvili, Giorgi Khasaia, Ekaterine Danelia, Vakhtang Natsvlishvili, Tatia Verulashvili, Ina Charkviani and Konstantine Chachibaia.
The government has been discussing free school meals for six years. In 2021, then-Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze said the ruling party had already worked on the program for two years, while former Education Minister Giorgi Amilakhvari repeatedly pledged its introduction. After six years, the government has cited a lack of necessary school infrastructure, while no action plan for the program has yet been presented. In February 2024, then-prime ministerial candidate Irakli Kobakhidze also said he would personally be involved in the issue.
