The Diaspora and Caucasus Issues Committee heard information on thematic inquiry outcomes jointly held by the Education, Science and Youth Affairs, and the Culture Committees.

The reporter, the Chair of the Diaspora and Caucasus Issues Committee, Irakli Zarkua and the co-reporter, the Head of the Staff of the Committee, Levan Magradze introduced the inquiry outcomes and the key findings.

As noted, the joint thematic inquiry “Enhancing Activity of the Georgian Sunday Schools (including in art education) and the Ensembles Abroad” was initiated on March 20, 2024, with the engagement of the thematic units of the legislative and executive authorities, as well as the diaspora organizations and the beneficiaries.

The discourse encompassed the target state programs and the challenges that art schools face.

The Committee discussed the recommendations offered on the basis of the inquiry and underlined that scrutinizing foreign practices is expedient upon the development of the policy to align the model to the country’s specification.

As Irakli Zarkua stressed, the maintenance of the national identity of the Georgian youth residing abroad requires the effective functioning of the Georgian Sunday Schools in respective countries.

According to him, the Sunday Schools exercise the function of universal accessibility to education.

“The inquiry has highlighted the imperative of Sunday Schools and Ensembles abroad. Specific recommendations have been formulated for monitoring by the Diaspora and Caucasus Issues Committee. I am confident that the state’s assistance and aid to Georgian Sunday Schools and Ensembles abroad will become more targeted and effective”, - he stated.

The Committee took note of the report.