On 28 September 2018, the Public Defender of Georgia urged the responsible state agencies to take timely measures in order to ensure access to education for children living in the villages of Pshav-Khevsureti.

According to the media reports[1], the boarding schools of Pshav-Khevsureti villages - Shatili, Barisakho and Magharoskari, where 27 children had been living and studying, failed to obtain a mandatory license. Consequently, the schools stopped functioning.

According to the Public Defender of Georgia, the functioning of the boarding schools is necessary as there are no public schools in some of the villages, while children cannot go to schools located tens of kilometers away, especially in winter, due to heavy snowfall and road problems. It is important to overcome geographical, infrastructural and other barriers in order to ensure access to education.

In her address to the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia and the Dusheti Mayor, the Public Defender got interested in the measures taken before the beginning of a school year to address the problems in the boarding schools and weather the children's families were notified of the termination of the functioning of the boarding schools in advance. At the same time, she called on them to timely study the issue and take all available measures in order to protect the child’s right to education.

[1] Information is avaialable at: http://mtisambebi.ge/news/people/item/806-pshav-xevsuretshi-27-bavshvi-skolis-gareshe-darcha [last accessed: 26.09.2018].