Giorgi Kakauridze: “The average teacher salary increased by GEL 500 last year; accordingly, this is not planned for in the coming year.”
Verdict: FactCheck concludes that Giorgi Kakauridze’s statement is MOSTLY TRUE.
Teacher salary increases took effect on 1 July 2024.
Funding for teacher salaries is provided through the Funding for General Education Schools sub-programme in the state budget. The exact portion allocated specifically for salaries is not specified so we assumed the full amount goes toward teacher remuneration. Considering the aforementioned, the average teacher salary increased by approximately GEL 464 from July 2024.
It should be noted that the salary increase follows a new mechanism under which teacher compensation consists of a base salary and potential bonuses. As a result, salaries are multi-component and almost all teachers have individualised pay based on various criteria.
Mentors and lead teachers saw a reduction in status-related bonuses under the changes. The Ministry compensates this reduction, ensuring these teachers receive the same total salary as before the change. This salary will be maintained for two years with an additional GEL 200 bonus. In practice, this means over 14,000 teachers in this category received a GEL 200 increase.
The largest increases were for senior teachers whose salaries rose by approximately GEL 500-800. This group – the largest in schools – includes over 42,000 teachers.
Ultimately, the majority of teachers – about 75% – saw their salaries increase by an average of GEL 650 whilst the remaining category received a GEL 200 increase. Calculating the overall average across all categories, teacher salaries rose by approximately GEL 425.
Considering the above, teacher salaries increased by GEL 425-464 on average. Thus, FactCheck concludes that Giorgi Kakauridze’s statement is MOSTLY TRUE.
Analysis
According to Giorgi Kakauridze, Deputy Minister of Finance for the Georgian Dream, teacher salary increases are not planned for 2026 because salaries were raised by approximately GEL 500 last year.
“Significant changes were made to the teacher compensation scheme in 2024 – they moved to hourly pay and salaries increased by GEL 500 on average. It was a deliberate policy from the start to raise salaries in a single step rather than through annual increases. This was implemented last year so further increases are not planned for the following year” – stated Kakauridze.
A new teacher compensation mechanism was introduced from 1 July 2024 by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth order resulting in increased teacher salaries.
Funding for teacher salaries is provided through the Funding for General Education Schools sub-programme in the state budget. Whilst the exact portion allocated specifically for salaries is not specified, it is possible to estimate the average increase in teacher salaries assuming the full amount is used for remuneration.
Comparisons are made between salaries for the 2022-2023 and 2024-2025 school years as the salary increase took effect in July of the 2023-2024 school year.
Table 1: Funding for General Education Schools, Number of Teachers, Average Salary
| Year | Funding for Schools | Number of Teachers | Average Salary |
| 2022-2023 | 1,136,320,200 | 62,296 | 1,520 |
| 2023-2024 | 1,359,894,700 | 63,665 | 1,780 |
| 2024-2025 | 1,571,750,000 | 66,010 | 1,984 |
Source: Ministry of Finance
The average teacher salary rose by GEL 260 in 2023-2024 year as compared to the 2022-2023 school year according to data. However, since the raise took effect in July 2024, it is more relevant to compare the 2022-2023 average salary with 2024-2025 which shows an increase of GEL 464.
It should also be noted that teacher compensation became multi-component and individualised for each teacher under the new scheme which was the foundation for the salary increase.
We provide a brief overview of the mechanism through which teachers have been receiving increased pay since 1 July 2024 below (see the full article for details).
A teacher’s compensation under the new mechanisms consists of a base salary and potential bonuses. The base salary is categorised according to three criteria: 1. education and qualifications, 2. work experience and 3. workload. Potential bonuses are divided into the following categories: functional bonuses for lead or mentor teachers, bonuses for teaching a full class, bonuses for teaching certain subjects in non-Georgian-language schools/sectors – Georgian language, Georgian history, Georgian geography – or as a class supervisor and bonuses for teachers working in public schools located in highland areas.
As noted, workload is one component of the base salary determined by the number of hours taught per week. The Ministry set the pay for one teaching hour at GEL 96 (gross) which after deductions – 2% pension contribution and 20% income tax – results in a net pay of GEL 75 per hour.
Experience is another component of the base salary with bonuses ranging from GEL 15 to GEL 45 depending on years of service. Bonuses based on education and qualifications range from GEL 40 to GEL 100.
Consider the following example to better illustrate the system: if a teacher conducts 20 lessons per week, has over ten years of experience and holds a master’s degree, the base salary for the workload would be GEL 1,920. Adding experience (GEL 45) and qualification (GEL 40) bonuses brings the gross base salary to GEL 2,005. After a 21.6% deduction, the teacher receives a net pay of GEL 1,572 or GEL 1,604 if not enrolled in the funded pension system.
The aforementioned covers the base salary. Potential bonuses are added on top as noted earlier: full-class teaching – GEL 40-50, class supervision – GEL 101.25, lead teacher functional bonus – GEL 150 and mentor teacher functional bonus – GEL 300.
Furthermore, if a teacher’s calculated salary under the rules as per the new mechanism is lower than what was earned as of 30 June 2024, the teacher retains the previous salary for two years and receives an additional GEL 200. This GEL 200 increase will continue even after the transition period ends.
If the difference between the new and old salary calculations does not result in at least a GEL 200 increase, the teacher will receive a minimum raise of GEL 200 regardless of the hourly workload. Status-based bonuses prior to this change were GEL 775 for senior teachers, GEL 1,175 for lead teachers and GEL 1,475 for mentor teachers.
In summary, all teachers received a salary increase from July 2024, although not equally. Previously, a significant part of a teacher’s pay came from status-based bonuses; with the change, all teachers were equalised and workload became the main determinant of salary growth.
Mentor and lead teachers saw a reduction in status-based bonuses under these changes. The Ministry compensates for this shortfall, ensuring these teachers receive the same total salary as before the reform. This salary will be maintained for two years with an additional GEL 200 bonus. In practice, this category – comprising over 14,000 teachers – received a GEL 200 increase.
The largest increases went to senior teachers (approximately GEL 500-800), representing about 75% of teachers in schools (over 42,000 individuals).
As a result, the majority of teachers saw their salaries increase by an average of GEL 650 whilst other categories received GEL 200. Calculating the overall average across all categories, teacher salaries increased by roughly GEL 425.
Considering the above, teacher salaries increased by GEL 425-464 on average. Thus, FactCheck concludes that Giorgi Kakauridze’s statement is MOSTLY TRUE.
