By Mikheil Batashvili's decision, applicants affected by the closure of the so-called border checkpoint will be enrolled without examinations
By the decision of Mikheil Batiashvili, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, entrants who were unable to participate in the 2019 Unified National and Master's Exams due to the closure of the so-called checkpoint on the Enguri Bridge by the de facto authorities of Abkhazia, will be enrolled without examinations in their desired bachelor's/master's programs at state higher education institutions of their choice. Furthermore, the state will fully finance the student's tuition with the maximum amount of the state study/master's grant.
This applies to all entrants who registered for the exam and expressed their desire to continue their studies in an authorized higher education institution, but whose right was fully or partially restricted, regardless of their results obtained in any given exam.
It is mandatory for students enrolled under this rule to accumulate at least 60 credits out of the 240 credits required for their studies during the 2019-2020 academic year in order to continue their studies at the higher education institution. Otherwise, the decision regarding the student's enrollment will be deemed void.
Additionally, work is underway on different mechanisms for the enrollment and funding of persons legitimately residing in the occupied territories in bachelor's/master's educational programs of state higher education institutions for the 2020-2021 academic year, ensuring that these entrants and students can obtain higher education without hindrance.
The implementation of these measures requires legislative amendments to the Law of Georgia "On Higher Education" and other legal acts, which will be ensured by the beginning of the 2019-2020 academic year.
We would also like to note that this year, for the first time, with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia and the initiative of the Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, a post-school education preparatory program is being implemented at TSU and Zugdidi Shota Meskhia State University for entrants living in the occupied territories of Georgia. Within the framework of this program, the state ensures full funding of tuition and living expenses for more than 100 young people living in the occupied territories of Georgia, both during the preparation period and after continuing their studies in higher education institutions of Georgia. This program will also continue in the next academic year.
