Challenges and Opportunities of the Authorization Process of Georgian Preschool Institutions

In the education system of Georgia, preschool education institutions play an essential role in the early development of children.Their activities and quality directly impact the future education system of the country.Therefore, in recent years, particular attention has been paid to the process of kindergarten authorization in Georgia, aimed at raising the quality of institutions and creating a suitable, safe, and high-standard environment for children.The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia periodically conducts analysis of local and international research related to the quality of preschool education and the authorization process.These include various studies by UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) concerning children's education systems, as well as reports from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), analyzing the state of education systems worldwide, including Georgia.Additionally, the World Bank's ( regular research on education systems, including preschool education and authorization processes, is also noteworthy.These reports often discuss the need for strengthening and reforming preschool education in Georgia.They focus on challenges within the preschool education system, the authorization process, and generally the quality of children's education standards in Georgia.Research is continuously updated to analyze new challenges, strategies, and responses.As of today, there are 1,574 preschool educational institutions in Georgia, with 161,931 children enrolled and 13,261 educators, teachers, and teacher assistants working.Over 60,000 children are registered in the capital.The smallest number of children is registered in the municipalities of Tsalka, Akhalkalaki, and Oni.For the first time in Georgia, preschool institutions are being authorized.The authorization period is set for 2025 2030; however, preparatory work for the authorization process was underway beforehand, which included infrastructure improvements and professional development for teachers.Ak.Tsereteli State University's Continuous Education Center is one of the providers successfully implementing a 66-hour certification training course for teacher professional development since 2019.To date, approximately 1,400 teachers have been trained by Ak.Tsereteli State University, which is a prerequisite for successfully passing the authorization of preschool institutions.Starting in 2025, 240 kindergartens in Georgia will undergo the authorization process.The goal of authorization is to ensure the functioning of institutions in a legal and safe environment, which should meet established standards and requirements.This process will not only ensure compliance with educational standards but also improve the internal management, service quality, and pedagogical policies of the institutions.