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People from “Mecxre Ubani” Will Remain Without School

August 14, 2007

turqi_mesxib.jpg“We could never imagine that the school that was built for us, would be closed down one day and we would face problems because of it,” said Muslim Meskh, Khasan Eristavi who was resettled to Samtredia District from Azerbaijan in 1983. In September the school in the village of Ianeti is supposed to be closed down.

In 1982-83 nearly thirty families of deported Meskhs were resettled in a small village of Samtredia district. They arrived from Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. At that time a special school was constructed for them in the village of Ianeti. The building was poor but the essential advantage for local people was chance of getting education for their children; in addition to that professional teachers were employed there.

As local residents say the school does not have only educational status. Various cultural activities are arranged there. The audience and participants of those events are deported Meskhs. You cannot meet residents of other districts in the village in Mecxre Ubani (the ninth district). The process of integration has been very slow since 1980s. The resettled people prefer not to deal with Georgian population.

“We would like to have less problems but it cannot arrange so simply. The government cannot find time to pay attention to us. They never meet us and we cannot break into their quarters either,” said Muslim or Turkish Meskhs like Georgian people from Ianeti call them. When we turned right from central motor-way local people advised us to go straight ahead to reach the district of Turkish Meskhs.

We went straight ahead and met worried people. They start to speak frankly:

“You know, soon we will not have a school…”

“What shall we do? Our children will remain illiterate…”

Children are also in bad mood. They guess that the situation is complicated. A little Nino who is still entertaining with a doll does not worry about adults’ problems. She claims that she would get only excellent marks at school. However, her fate, as well as of many other children, is still obscure.

“I think the question is already settled. They are supposed to close it down in September. We have applied to many instances, to many governmental and non-governmental organizations but could not change anything. Now we have petitioned to the President and the Minister of Education. We are trying our best. I am very sorry that my pupils will remain beyond school,” said Lamzira Tevzadze, teacher for Ianeti Public School.

As it became clear the teacher does exaggerate the situation when stating that children will remain beyond education. Residents from “Mecxre Ubani” said that if Public School # 2 is closed down, they will not send their children to other school.

“The family of Mamedovs has already made decision and packed their luggage. They are moving to Turkey. Their child was in the fourth form at our school and parents used to leave the child at neighbors and teachers when they went to Turkey to work. They categorically deny sending their child to Ianeti Public School # 1,” said Ms. Lamzira.

Lamzira Tevzadze will also remain unemployed in September. The director of Ianeti Public School # 1 refuses to employee teachers from Public School # 2. Consequently nearly twenty teachers will remain unemployed.

“Even if they exclude our factor, deported people will be in bad situation. I am sure many other families will also refuse to send their children to a new school like Mamedovs did. And do you know what will come out of it? They will become even more isolated and finally leave Georgia,” said Lamzira Tevzadze.

Nearly four months ago Ministry of Education sent a bus to Ianeti Public School # 1. The residents of Mecxre Ubani suspected that government was planning something against them; then they had heard about integration of Public Schools # 1 and 2. Now Meskhs state openly that “they will not let their little daughter to sit next to a strange boy on a bus.” Unfortunately, the school is the only place where they meet and contact local people.

“We would rather have illiterate children-Meskhs repeat stubbornly and if you see firm expression on their face you will guess that they will keep their promise. Though, they will create problems not only for their children.


 Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi

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