2019-04-04
Today we are initiating a new draft law obligating the current and future governments to spend 6% of GDP, that is, quarter of the budget, on education, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze stated during the briefing before today's Government meeting.
According to the Head of Government, the education budget will increase by almost a billion compared to 2012, to make up 1.6 billion this year. The Government pledges to increase the education budget to 2 billion in 2020, the Prime Minister said, also to 2.5 billion in 2021, and to 3.4 billion in 2022, to make up 6% of GDP.
"That will be the minimal obligation of any government to spend on education, youth, and human capital development. I firmly believe that this is the only right way to freedom, to freedom from occupation, and freedom from poverty," Mamuka Bakhtadze stated.
According to the Prime Minister, said amounts and investments will be used for all five educational sectors: preschool education, secondary education, vocational education, higher education, and science.
"It is a very important step. We plan far-reaching activities in this direction. I will personally visit every region of Georgia, every corner, settlement, every Georgian household, to speak to our citizens about this idea of national importance, to listen to their advice and recommendations. We will have an open platform, including online, where the Government will be ready to discuss this issue with everyone's participation," Mamuka Bakhtadze said.
The Head of Government urged the Parliament to deliberate on this draft law as soon as possible.
Prime Minister's Press Office