Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze attributed the removal of certain Georgian literature and history subjects from the Unified State Exam program to the National Movement government, dismissing the criticism as "pure speculation."
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“There is a specific list of literature and history sections that were not included in the compulsory program previously, which is, of course, a significant problem.
Students requested that we exclude topics from the exam questions if those topics were not part of the compulsory school curriculum. This is, naturally, a reasonable request. If students are not instructed to study something in school, it is only logical that they should not be expected to answer questions on it in exams.
In response, we considered the students’ request and excluded non-compulsory topics from the program. Among these were certain literary works and specific passages from history textbooks,” Speaking on the pro-government TV channel Imedi, Kobakhidze explained.
He further remarked that, upon reviewing the list of excluded literature, he was stunned.
“Simply put, these works cannot be left out of the compulsory program. To some extent, this is also our responsibility because there was an issue that should have been addressed during these 12 years. However, it appears this problem was not adequately resolved, which we are now working to address.
The omissions in the national curriculum are shocking. Why were certain subjects deprioritized, and why were key materials systematically removed from specific subjects year after year? These changes started approximately 20 years ago and were implemented systematically.
Do you recall who the Ministers of Education were under the previous government? Patriotic content - materials fostering a sense of national identity - was systematically excluded from the curriculum and textbooks. These processes were deliberate and, unfortunately, continued even after 2012.”
Kobakhidze also noted that earlier this year, Honorary Chairman of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, emphasized the need to thoroughly review the national curriculum.
“One of the first issues raised by Ivanishvili, when we discussed topics of national importance, was the need to examine what students are studying in schools, particularly in subjects like history and literature, though not limited to these.
Everything was taken into account. We approved a document outlining the national goals of general education. This document, while relatively brief, includes core principles and highlights issues that must be reflected in the curriculum.
This is the first step. The national curriculum, which is currently under revision, must align with the national goals document. Textbooks and educational materials must undergo a qualitative review to ensure compliance,” the Prime Minister stated.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has removed a number of topics from the 2025 Unified National Exam program in Literature and History. Many of these topics directly or indirectly relate to Georgia’s resistance to Russian occupation.
For instance, it is no longer mandatory for students to study the uprisings against Russia in 1802, 1804, 1812, and 1819-1820. Significant works by Ilia Chavchavadze have also been removed from the literature exam program, including “Happy Nation”, “Pen of Mine” (Chemo Kalamo), “The Hermit”, “The Ghost”, and “The Answer to the Answer”. Additionally, Vazha-Pshavela’s publicistic letter “Cosmopolitanism and Patriotism” and the poem “Bakhtrioni” are no longer part of the program.
