State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili visited Akhalkalaki Public School # 1 where she met with teachers and pupils and attended an open lesson conducted by an auxiliary bilingual teacher.

During the meeting with the teachers she spoke about the Georgian language programs implemented for the  ethnic minority representatives and noted that in parallel of these programs the state cares about maintaining their native language, as well.       

The State Minister emphasized on the role of bilingual assistant teachers and stated that they have a huge continuation in the learning process of Georgian language by the representatives of ethnic minorities. She spoke about the importance of "Educational Program for Training in Georgian Language" (so called 1 + 4 program), after which students can do internships in the public sector in a simplified way.

Later the State Minister attended the Georgian lesson in the eighth grade, which was conducted exactly by an assistant bilingual teacher. Together with pupils, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili discussed the necessity of studying the state language and said that it will give them opportunity to fully engage in social life of the country. According to her, today's main message is that the state truly cares about its population.

"Today children talked about their dreams and in order to make these dreams come true and for them to be successful in their homeland, they should have a good education. Of course, they should know their native language and also the state language in order not to have any closed door.

"We also spoke with teachers that the graduates of this school and other schools of Samtskhe-Javakheti are already very successfully using " 1 + 4 program ", they are learning the state language and then simplify apply for desired profession of the desired university. We are conducting a large scale program of internship in state agencies for these students. More than 150 young people, mostly ethnic Armenians and Azerbaijani citizens, have already undergone internships. These young people are very talented and are a wonderful resource in order to continue their activities in various fields, both at the central and local levels. Our task is to have even more successful youngsters from this region," Ketevan Tsikhelashvili said.

The program "Professional Development of Non-Georgian Schools Teachers" is implemented by the National Center for Teacher Professional Development. Its objective is to facilitate professional development and teaching-learning process of non-Georgian language schools of compact settlements with ethnic minorities, by strengthening the state language.