Opening a secondary school in Georgia is done not through a "licence" but through authorization — a procedure established by Article 32 of the Law on General Education. The secondary level is its own independent authorization unit: the law defines it as grades X and XI plus an optional 1 year — grade XII — and it is precisely the right to implement this programme that is acquired through authorization. This page explains what authorization gives, for how long, and what completing the secondary level means for the pupil.
Authorization, not a licence — Article 32
Under paragraph 1 of Article 32, as a result of authorization a legal person obtains the status of a general educational institution and is authorised to issue a state-recognised document confirming general education. The authorization standards are determined by the authorization statute of educational institutions, and the term of authorization is 9 years. Licensing as a separate procedure does not exist in general education — the word survives in everyday speech, but in substance the matter concerns authorization.
The legal definition of the secondary level — Articles 2 and 6
Under the definition of Article 2, complete general education in Georgia comprises 3 levels: primary (6 years — grades I-VI), basic (3 years — grades VII-IX) and secondary (2 years — grades X and XI plus an optional 1 year — grade XII). Complete general education covers no less than 11 and no more than 12 years, and the learning outcomes of the secondary level correspond to level 4 of the National Qualifications Framework.
Under Article 6, obtaining complete general education means completing grades X and XI of the secondary level, on the basis of which the document confirming complete general education — the certificate (attestat) — is issued. A special route also exists: a secondary vocational educational programme with integrated secondary-level learning outcomes yields, upon completion, both a diploma and a document confirming complete general education; and after completing grades X-XI or the vocational programme the pupil may additionally take the optional grade XII and receive the certificate.
The secondary level as an independent authorization unit
Paragraph 4 of Article 32 names the independent general educational programmes, and the general educational programme of the secondary level of general education is among them. This means that a school may seek authorization at the secondary level only — without the primary and basic levels — and vice versa: adding the secondary level to a primary-basic school requires a separate authorization.
During the validity of the authorization the institution may implement only the programme indicated in the authorization application, and also a programme the right to implement which it acquires during the authorization period in the manner established by legislation. If the authorization is revoked, the pupil is credited with the educational programme completed by the respective moment — a guarantee that protects the right to continue studies.
Accelerated completion and subject certificates
Under paragraph 2 of Article 6, accelerated completion of a general educational programme is admissible only in exceptional cases, taking into account the pupil's individual capabilities and under the rule set by the Ministry. Upon the request of the pupil or parent the institution must issue a certificate of completed subjects in the Ministry's form. Leaving a pupil outside the system before completing the basic level is prohibited, and a holder of any level's document has the right to continue at the next level throughout Georgia.
The practical significance of authorization for the pupil lies precisely in the document: the certificate of complete general education is the basis for admission to higher education, and only an authorized school may issue it. The decision to open the secondary level therefore begins with studying the authorization statute's standards — the requirements for teaching staff, the learning environment and programme documentation.
Two parameters of the authorization regime arise most often in practice: the term and the document. The authorization of a general education institution lasts 9 years, and upon authorization the institution may issue a state-recognised certificate of general education; the certificate of full general education — the attestate — is issued upon completion of grades X and XI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer the questions most frequently asked about opening a school and obtaining authorization.
Does a secondary school need a licence?
Instead of the term "licence" the law uses authorization: it grants the status of a general educational institution and the right to issue a state document, for 9 years.
Which grades are in the secondary level?
Grades X and XI, plus the optional grade XII; complete general education covers from 11 to 12 years in total.
May authorization be obtained for the secondary level only?
Yes — the secondary-level programme is an independent authorization unit.
What is accelerated completion?
Accelerated completion of a programme is possible only in exceptional cases, taking into account the pupil's individual capabilities and under the Ministry's rule.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team will align the authorization process at the secondary level: we will determine which programmes you intend to implement, assess readiness against the statute's standards, and provide a plan for preparing the application. Contact us — opening a school requires a legally clean start.