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IDP School Is In Trouble

October 3, 2007

devnilta_skolab.gifZhiuli Shartava Public School # 6 has been operative for 12 years. The school falls under the Ministry of Education and Culture of the autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. It is currently located in Kutaisi on the fifth floor of the former vocational school for cooking and economics. IDP’s live on the other floors of the building and their children go to that school. The IDP’s have flats and a school in one building. During breaks children can go home to have a snack.

Ten years ago, when the school was lodged in the building, nobody suspected that they would spend so much time there. Initially they thought of going back every day. But years passed by and returning back to Abkhazia has become an unrealistic dream. Consequently, the board and teachers of the IDP school started to improve the conditions for pupils there. Finally, after lengthy discussion, classrooms and the corridor were painted.

Several days ago the Human Rights Center organized a “Word Demonstration” about Abkhazia. Many IDP’s and teachers at the IDP school responded to the event. The representatives of the Center were invited by the teachers to visit the IDP school. The teachers discussed their problems with their guests.

“The only part of the school we are happy about is the name, Zhiuli Shartava. We cannot be placed in such a building and give lessons here. We have unsuccessfully appealed to the Ministry of Education, local government, and the Imereti Regional School Board several times. They treat us like abnormal people and our demands are absurd to them. During the revolution I was standing on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi and tried to support the opposition. We hoped that the situation in the country would change and also that our problems would be resolved. Now we understand that nothing has changed at all. Just the opposite, the situation has worsened,” said Lela Khukhua, a teacher of Georgian literature at the Abkhazian Public School # 6.

“In 1997, when we moved in, we had 237 pupils. Now, that number has been reduced to 102-103. Some of the pupils have finished school and moved away. Some others have left school after finishing the compulsory nine grades of school which has resulted in fewer pupils. Moreover, we offer our pupils an unbearable learning situation and cannot challenge them at all. When we first moved in here, although we had to work in a substandard building, we were provided with free text books and free traveling. Thus, our school was convenient for the IDP population. However, our stay here has been prolonged too much, we seem to have overstayed our welcome and the government’s attention for us has dwindled,” said Napoleon Meskhia, the head of the school administration.

Ever since the Ministry of Education started its reforms, the IDP school has run into some serious problems. Before, the school managed to provide pupils with textbooks with the support of international and local organizations and it greatly contributed to the budget of the IDP’s. However, since the reform started, textbooks have changed and pupils do not even have one book at school.

“Whoever comes to aid us leaves our school as soon as we mention we need textbooks. We cannot even afford to buy at least one complete set of textbooks. They offer to assist us with other ways. How many times should they roof our school? Our primary problem is a lack of textbooks. As for these substandard rooms, we have gotten used to them. One textbook costs 13 to 15 lari. Teachers and pupils cannot do anything without those books. Finally, we asked the children to collect money and buy a book, but they cannot afford to buy them either. These children are from IDP families and cannot even be properly fed by their parents.”

Teachers for the Abkhazian Public School # 6 know that almost all schools in Georgia have similar problems. But they think that the IDP school is particularly suffering. Having been neglected by local and IDP governments these people do not want ask for their help anymore. Now, teachers urge the society and non-governmental organizations to help.

Lela Khidasheli, Kutaisi 

 

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