Opening a basic school in the Georgian system is not subject to "licensing" — the procedure used is authorization under Article 32 of the Law on General Education. The basic level is an independent authorization unit: it covers grades VII-IX, and the right to implement it is acquired through a separate authorization. This page explains the framework of the basic level, the substance of authorization and the opportunities that exist beyond a full school.
Authorization, not a "licence" — 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 standards are determined by the authorization statute, and the term is 9 years. The general educational programme of the basic level is in the list of independent programmes of paragraph 4 of Article 32 — authorization is possible both together with a full school and at the basic level alone.
The legal framework of the basic level — Article 2
Under Article 2 the basic level covers 3 years — grades VII-IX; the three levels of complete general education together amount to no less than 11 and no more than 12 years. The learning outcomes of the basic level correspond to the generalized learning outcomes defined for level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework.
Basic education carries special weight: it is precisely before completing the basic level that leaving a pupil outside the education system is prohibited by law, and education at the primary and basic levels is compulsory. A holder of a level document has the right to continue at the next level throughout the territory of Georgia.
The substance of authorization in practice
The institution may implement only the programme indicated in the authorization application and a programme the right to which it acquires during the authorization period. If the authorization is revoked, the pupil is credited with the programme completed by the respective moment — a guarantee protecting the right to continue studies.
The law also gives additional opportunities: a general educational institution may, without creating a separate legal person, implement basic and secondary vocational educational programmes, a state-language preparation programme, and vocational training or retraining programmes. For institutions founded by the state or with its participation, the authorization statute may also define different conditions.