Early Bilingual Education: The Foundation of Social Integration for Communities Representing National Minorities

Abstract

The issue of minority integration has gained significant relevance and importance for all nations
in the context of recent years marked by intensive migration and global conflicts. Experts
specializing in national minorities highlight the pivotal role of the educational system as a
fundamental tool for the civil integration of ethnic minorities in society. Proficiency in the state
language among ethnic minorities is also seen as a significant prerequisite for successful
integration. At the same time, bilingual education is receiving growing endorsement within the
scientific community as a vital means for fostering bilingual literacy. Research studies affirm
that this educational approach effectively addresses language policy challenges in Georgia.
Nevertheless, an examination of the reforms and measures implemented to support the
acquisition of the state language by minority groups, spanning from the post-independence
period in the 90s to the present day, reveals a certain inconsistency in policy and reforms. This
inconsistency stands as a primary contributing factor to less favorable outcomes in the field of
education. Over the years, the neglect of a critical period for human development - early
childhood education and development - has impeded progress in general and higher education.
Notably, a pilot program for early bilingual education has been initiated in regions densely
populated by national minorities. The program's design took into account international
obligations and the sectoral priorities outlined in the Unified National Strategy of Education and
Science. While the initiative itself is significant, a challenge lies in the fact that the program was
planned without a preliminary study of the local context. Consequently, measuring the effects of
the intervention and considering the possibility of program expansion and replication on a
geographical scale may prove challenging in the future