Italian is officially included in university entrance exams in Georgia

The 26th edition of Italian Language Week, packed with initiatives devised and organised by the Italian Embassy in Georgia, drew to a close with a much-anticipated event at the Georgian Ministry of Education, Science and Youth: the award ceremony for the winners of the prestigious competitions, organised in collaboration with the Minerva Education Centre and the Embassy of the Swiss Confederation in Georgia, which took place during Italian Language Week in Georgian state and private schools where Italian is taught. The highlight of the event was, moreover, the announcement by the Italian Ambassador, Massimiliano D’Antuono, and the Georgian Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth, Tamar Makharadze, of the official inclusion of the Italian language amongst the optional subjects for the university entrance examination – a recognition of immense value for the teaching and promotion of Italian in the country.

“This is a significant milestone and the culmination of a long journey, which began in 2018 with the launch of the programme to introduce Italian as a compulsory second foreign language in Georgian schools,” said the Italian Ambassador, Massimiliano D’Antuono. “A programme conceived and implemented by this embassy, in coordination with the Minerva Education Centre and in close collaboration with the Georgian Ministry of Education, which has led to an unprecedented result with over 9,000 students learning Italian in as many as 65 state and private schools across Georgia. From 2027, these students will have the opportunity to choose Italian as one of their optional languages for the university entrance examination and thus continue their educational journey whilst studying Italian.”