Georgia’s Early and Preschool Education and Care System is a comprehensive framework designed to support children from birth until they enter primary school. This system, governed by the Law of Georgia on Early and Preschool Education and Care, ensures universal accessibility to and the development and quality assurance of early and preschool education in Georgia. It also defines the organizational structure of early and preschool education institutions, and the rules for their foundation, operation and accountability, as well as the binding nature of their authorization. The Law outlines the powers, obligations, functions, and responsibilities of state bodies, municipalities, and other legal and/or natural persons related to early and preschool education and the principles for financing them. 

Georgia's early and preschool education legislation comprises the Constitution, the International Agreements, the Organic Law of Georgia—Local Self-Government Code, and other legislative and subordinate normative acts. This framework promotes inclusivity, safety and quality in early childhood services, aligning with international standards.

Components of the System

Governed by the Law on Early and Preschool Education and Care, the system has two primary components:

• Early Education and Care: Aimed at children under two years old and their families,  services provided include education and support for a parent and/or legal representative; services offered by childcare institutions for children under such age, healthcare, catering, hygienic and sanitary safety, early intervention and inclusive education services.

• Preschool Education and Care: This phase focuses on comprehensive developmental needs for children from age 2 to school entry. It includes the School Readiness Program (a mandatory component of preschool education) for children aged 5-6, conducted in the final year of preschool. This program focuses on preparing children for primary education and is structured to support the developmental milestones necessary for a smooth transition to formal schooling.

Participation in Early and Preschool Educational programs, including the school readiness program, is entirely voluntary. This ensures that all families have the option to enroll their children without any legal mandate. Public Early and Preschool Educational and Care institutions provide services free of charge, including basic education, development programs, and daily nutritional support, funded by municipal budgets to ensure affordability and inclusivity across socioeconomic backgrounds.

According to the relevant law, Early and Preschool Educational and Care Institutions established per Georgia's legislation are eligible to provide early and/or preschool education and/or implement the school readiness program.

Framework and Administration

The Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia plays a pivotal role in overseeing Early and Preschool Education at a national level. Together with its internal departments and Legal Entities of Public Law (LEPLs), the ministry sets standards for the educational component, ensures quality, and authorizes institutions. Local municipalities, on the other hand, are responsible for funding[1] and managing public early and/or preschool education institutions and ensuring the implementation of national standards in each region.

To guarantee equal access and high-quality early and preschool education across Georgia, prioritizing children's best interests, the Government of Georgia has specific powers and obligations, including approving the regulations and standards for early and preschool education and care, including those for school readiness. 

Under Georgian law, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth is tasked with various roles to support preschool education, guided by both national and international legal frameworks. These include providing recommendations to the Government to guarantee safe and conducive learning environments, submitting for approval the state standards for preschool education, approving the framework for caregiver professional education programmes, establishing a monitoring system for public institutions and developing training modules for the professional development of caregivers. MoESY supports municipalities in implementing these training programmes, thereby ensuring the quality, safety and accessibility of preschool education. 

The Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia has established the Preschool Education Development Division within the Preschool and General Education Development Department to provide comprehensive support to the Early and Preschool education sector. The division's role is to provide extensive support to the early and preschool education and care sectors, from identifying issues to providing solutions and guidelines for improvement. It also seeks to facilitate access to preschool education throughout the country, and each child's school training provides them with high-quality preschool education. The division publishes methodological manuals for preschool educators and specialists: The Education and Development Standards for the Early Age, Preschool age child evaluation forms, Games and activities for children of preschool age, Preschool institution Management Guide, the physical environment of the Preschool institution, etc. They also established guidelines for ethnic minority preschool children in Georgian as a second language study. 

Following recent amendments to the Law on Early and Preschool Education, the authorization process for institutions has transitioned to the central government. This responsibility now (Until January 1, 2030) lies with the LEPL National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement under Georgia’s Ministry of Education, Science and Youth. The Decree N76 of February 21, 2023, of the Government of Georgia "On the approval of the temporary rule for the authorization of the early education and/or preschool education institution, as well as the suspension and termination of the institution's authorization" defines the quality assurance framework. New authorization standards for early childhood and preschool education institutions, focusing on:

1. Mission and Strategic Development

2. Curriculum

3. Family and Community Involvement

4. Support for Education and Care (including personnel management, resources, food, hygiene, safety, and financial resources)

Both public and private institutions must meet these standards equally. Institutional authorization is valid for four years.

The Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia has also set a 2025–2029 timeline for institutions' authorization. 

Municipalities are responsible for implementing preschool education per national standards and ensuring equitable access to services for all children. This includes providing preschool education in compliance with state standards, emphasizing inclusivity and protecting children’s rights, and ensuring parents or legal representatives are actively involved in preschool programs. Municipalities also establish monitoring, assessment, and reporting systems to ensure compliance with authorization standards and develop annual plans and budgets based on the specific needs of local institutions.

Institutions providing early and preschool education services in Georgia are responsible for upholding specific standards and ensuring the rights and well-being of children. These include safeguarding the right to education as outlined in Georgian and international laws and ensuring that the rights of children, parents, and legal representatives are fully respected. They also adhere to all established standards, cover inclusive education, child protection, and sanitary and hygiene requirements, and maintain complete transparency in delivering early and preschool education services.

Public institutions shall establish an Advisory Board on a voluntary basis to enhance collaboration and transparency. This board, comprising parents and caregivers, serves as a consultative body, offering insights and recommendations to improve educational services. The board reviews financial expenses and asset management and offers the institution’s administration suggestions. It submits recommendations quarterly to the local administration (city hall, Gamgeoba) or non-commercial entities as required by the municipality.

The Ministry of Labour, Health, and Social Affairs of Georgia supports preschool education by overseeing health and safety standards, including Sanitation, Hygiene, and Nutrition Standards.

The National Food Agency oversees food safety in preschool institutions, examining compliance with safety standards per Georgian law.

The National Statistics Office of Georgia is responsible for collecting and publishing data on early and preschool education, which includes:

1. Number of Institutions: Tracking the number of institutions by municipality.
2. Enrollment Numbers: Recording the number of children in preschool programs.
3. Caregiver and Educator Data: Reporting the number of caregivers and educators in institutions.
4. Additional Data: Collect other relevant data on early and preschool education as needed.

This data supports informed decision-making and helps improve the quality and accessibility of preschool education across Georgia.

Educational Standards

In 2017, the Government of Georgia approved state standards and technical regulations related to preschool education, mandating that all early childhood institutions (regardless of their legal form) adhere to the National Educational Standards for Early and Preschool Education and School Readiness.  The National Educational Standards for Early and Preschool Education and School Readiness are the documents which aim to ensure an equitable, inclusive, child-centred, high-quality educational process that supports child development and responds to their interests and needs in a safe and child-friendly environment. 

ISCED Classification

According to the 2011 International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED):

• Early Education Centers for children under 2 are classified as ISCED 010 (Early Childhood Development).

• Preschool Education Centers, including the School Readiness Program for ages 5-6, are classified as ISCED 020 (Early Childhood Education focusing on developmental and learning readiness).