Georgian Republicans protest against differential fees for kindergartens in Tbilisi

The Tbilisi authorities adopted a decision to introduce differentiated fees for children's treatment in kindergartens. The Republican Party strongly opposes the new rules.

According to the adopted changes, starting the new academic year, municipal kindergartens in Tbilisi will establish individual fees in accordance with the standards and quality of service; however, the fees should not exceed the amount required for treatment of one child in preschool facilities, the news agency "News-Georgia" reports.

The transition to a new payment system is associated with the reform of methods for kindergartens' administration, the IA "InterPressNews" reports.

Tina Khidasheli, a deputy of the Sakrebulo (community's representative body) from the Republican Party, stated that the decision "was inherently corrupted and would further exacerbate the situation of the population".

"It is became known officially that an increase in fees is inevitable; and we regret even more that in two weeks before the start of the new school year, the Mayoralty still fails to say, how much parents will have to pay," Ms Khidasheli said.

In turn, the representative of the Mayoralty asserts that, as a result of the reform, all children, regardless of their social status, will gain an opportunity to grow in equal conditions.