On February 4, 2025, the second annual conference on early and preschool education was held as part of the Innovation, Inclusion, and Quality—Georgia (I2Q) Project, supported by the World Bank. The conference brought together key stakeholders to review progress, share insights, and discuss the future of early childhood education in Georgia. The event was attended by approximately 200 individuals, including donors, experts, policymakers, kindergarten managers, trainers, representatives from pilot municipalities, kindergarten unions, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia, and other stakeholders.
The event was officially opened by Ms. Tamar Tchkonia, ECE Component Lead, followed by keynote addresses from Dr. Nancy Frey, SDSU Team Lead, the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia, representatives from the World Bank, and the Executive Director of the I2Q Project. Dr. Frey provided a comprehensive update on the project's progress and impact. Project experts from SDSU, Dr. Sarah Garrity and Dr. James Marshall, as well as local specialists, highlighted key areas of collaboration, including professional development, salary scale development, school readiness programs, data reporting, and administrative support.
The conference also featured panel discussions with experts, kindergarten managers, trainers, representatives from kindergarten agencies in pilot municipalities, and officials from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia.
The final session of the event was a certificate award ceremony led by Dr. Nancy Frey, recognizing specialists/trainers who played a key role in training personnel in the pilot municipalities over the past year. SDSU, through the I2Q Project, continues to drive improvements in early childhood education in Georgia, fostering high-quality learning experiences for young children nationwide.