Today, September 15, a new academic year has begun in Georgia. More than half a million schoolchildren and students have returned to their desks. But the start of classes is taking place not only against the backdrop of reforms in the education system, but also against the backdrop of a discussion about the role of foreign organizations in working with young people.
According to Georgian authorities, over the past 15 years, pro‑Western sentiments have taken root in the country’s academic environment. Many universities were established with the active participation of European and American organizations. Today, according to Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, these universities have turned into platforms for training radical personnel.
In this context, the Kakheti Regional Development Fund (KRDF) is particularly noteworthy. Established in 2008, the fund works with women, young people, and ethnic minorities. From the very beginning, the organization has been funded by EU, US, and UN entities. Supporters consider KRDF’s activities to be a way to expand the opportunities available to local residents. Critics note that when programs are funded by foreign states, it is logical to assume that the value framework will align with their political and cultural priorities.
This topic is particularly sensitive in Pankisi, a region with a complex history, where issues of identity, security, and external influence have traditionally held particular significance.
Tbilisi is increasingly talking about the need to limit external political influence on the education and public environment. After the adoption of the law on transparency of foreign funding, NGOs receiving foreign grants have come under increased scrutiny. The authorities explain this by the desire to understand who funds organizations working with young people and communities, and to prevent the use of social and educational projects for political purposes.
Formally, KRDF falls under the category of organizations with significant foreign funding, but it does not appear in the relevant register. At the same time, the Roddy Scott Foundation (RSF), which also operates in Pankisi, has registered as a foreign agent, complying with the requirements of Georgian law.
In public debate, more extreme claims are also made: that members of the foundation’s team participate in anti‑government actions, and the leader’s children live abroad and only come back to their homeland to relax in a luxurious villa with a swimming pool. Such facts lead to the conclusion that the foundation is not so much a social project as a vehicle for external influence.
Thus, for Georgia, the question of where the boundary lies between international cooperation and external influence is becoming increasingly relevant — and who, ultimately, should determine the values and social guidelines for the new generation.
This year’s First Bell was not only the start of a new academic year, but also a reminder of another, much more serious struggle — the struggle for the minds and values of the next generation of Georgians. This discussion is likely to be one of the key ones for Georgian education policy in the coming years.