Parents protest after Tbilisi public school abruptly closed for demolition three days into term

Parents in the upscale Vera neighbourhood of Tbilisi staged a protest this week after authorities announced the sudden closure of Tbilisi Public School No. 21 just three days into the academic year. The move followed an evening SMS sent to families on 17 September informing them that the school building was in such poor condition it would need to be demolished and that students would be transferred to other schools across the city.

The abrupt notice and the timing of the announcement provoked anger and confusion among parents, many of whom gathered outside the school the following day demanding answers. Several parents told OC Media they had received no prior warning and questioned why any necessary inspection or remediation had not taken place over the summer break, when school buildings are typically assessed and repaired.

The dispute escalated as former school director Tamara Amzashvili publicly challenged the claim that the building required demolition, arguing instead that the decision was politically motivated. Some parents echoed suspicions about ulterior motives, with one parent saying she believed the building might be of interest to a prospective buyer. Those allegations have not been substantiated in available reporting.

In support of the closure, an 11-page document from the National Forensics Bureau included photographs showing large cracks in the building’s interior and exterior. The bureau concluded that the building’s technical condition was “unsatisfactory,” that the extent of the damage and the unreliability of the construction scheme placed the building in category IV of suitability, and that restoration or rehabilitation would be unprofitable. The bureau recommended the building be completely dismantled based on an appropriate dismantling project.

The Education Ministry responded to the controversy by saying it only became aware of the school’s state of disrepair on 17 September, the same day parents were informed. Education Minister Givi Mikanadze acknowledged the timing of the notification in comments reported by the local outlet Netgazeti. Ministry spokesperson Mariam Adeishvili told OC Media that there was not yet a specific alternative space for pupils and that parents would be informed in the coming days. She also said the Ministry of Infrastructure would likely announce a tender in the near future.

Parents at the protest described feeling abandoned by authorities and worried about immediate disruptions to their children’s education. One parent, identified as Nano Gabunia, called the authorities’ actions “irresponsible,” saying that the decision violated her children’s right to education and left families uncertain about where and when classes would continue. Another parent, who gave her name as Mari, said she did not understand how officials could conclude the building needed demolition in a single day if structural problems had existed earlier.

Some parents pointed out that the school had been inspected and cleared for use two years earlier, deepening their concern about the sudden change in assessment. The Education Ministry’s statement that it had only just received reports about the building after the start of the school year did little to assuage immediate fears, and parents said they would continue to press authorities until they received concrete plans for relocation or reconstruction.

The closure raises broader questions about oversight, planning, and accountability in the management of public education infrastructure in Tbilisi. Rapid closures of schools without clear contingency plans can disrupt learning and may disproportionately affect children and families who have limited options. For now, parents and local activists are demanding timely information and solutions from the government while the National Forensics Bureau’s recommendation for demolition remains central to official justification for the sudden shutdown.

Reporting for this story included material from local outlet Netgazeti. The OC Media piece identifying student interns noted Aslan, a Georgian–Azerbaijani student, as interning at the organisation.