Education Ministry to Present School Readiness Program for 5-Year-Olds

The School Readiness programme for all five-year-old children is being presented today by the Ministry of Education and Science to the local municipalities to ensure its effective roll-out throughout the country. The programme has been developed with the support of UNICEF and it will give children the opportunity to mature another year in all developmental areas as well as to learn skills that will enable them to achieve success in school. The programme is expected to start this September.

"Since July last year UNICEF been supporting the Ministry of Education and Science to develop the School Readiness curriculum based on Early Learning and Development Standards, a School Readiness manual and activity book for educators, and training modules to ensure teachers are ready to support the children,” says Sascha Graumann, UNICEF Representative in Georgia. “It is important that municipalities understand and introduce the programme at the local level. For the successful implementation of the programme overall monitoring should stay with the Ministry of Education and Science. All children should have equal opportunities to enjoy a free and universal School Readiness Programme that will help them to better succeed in school.”

Early childhood education is of paramount importance for every child as it lays the foundation for further growth and development. Investments in early childhood development impacts not only the health, well-being, learning and protection of young children, but also economic growth in the country over the medium and long term.

More information to follow.

Nino Ioseliani