Parents and teachers of Public School No. 21: "We are not claiming that the building is safe; rather, we maintain that the actual condition of the building has not been determined through measurements in any of the existing reports. We demand that our own expert be present during all expert assessments"

Parents and teachers of Public School No. 21 have released an evaluation—conducted by an independent expert—of the report concerning the school building.

According to their statement, based on this independent expert's assessment, there is currently no evidence to support the claim that the school building requires demolition.

Furthermore, the statement notes that the Samkharauli National Bureau continues to conduct expert assessments of the school building, yet the school’s initiative group is being denied the right to participate in the process.

"I am sharing with you an assessment report prepared by an independent expert, which highlights five key issues:

The damage was not measured; the conclusion was based solely on a visual inspection. In 2023, the same bureau assessed the very same damage as 'Grade I' and deemed the building safe. Yet, in 2026, it was reclassified as 'Grade II–III'—without any explanation.

A 'Category IV' classification was assigned without any supporting calculations. Resolution No. 161 requires calculations regarding the damaged components, but this was not done. Instead, 'Grade III' damage was simply equated to 'Category IV.'

Incorrect standards were applied. The building is constructed of large blocks, yet the assessment utilized thresholds established for brick structures. Of the five points raised, only two have a valid basis in the regulations; for these two, the bureau had actually proposed structural reinforcement back in 2023.

The elevation to 'Category IV' is unsubstantiated. This classification involves a degree of administrative discretion, yet the report lacks the calculations necessary to justify its application.

No option for structural reinforcement was considered. Resolution No. 161 allows for structural reinforcement as a viable alternative to demolition for 'Category IV' structures. Furthermore, just nine days after recommending its demolition, the same bureau authorized the temporary use of the building, stating that it was not in a dilapidated or hazardous condition.

We wish to emphasize: we are not claiming that the building is safe. We are stating that the actual condition of the building has not been determined through any measurements in any of the reports. Decisions regarding the safety of children must be based on facts, not merely on visual inspections.

On October 15, a working group was established, bringing together parents and school teachers on one side, and representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Municipal Development Fund on the other. The group’s objective was collaboration; however, representatives from state agencies have failed to provide answers to questions raised by the school community. Experts from the Samkharauli Bureau do not notify us in advance when they visit the school—despite an agreement that an independent expert would also be present during inspections," the statement reads.

Parents are demanding that an independent, instrumental seismic assessment of the building be conducted in accordance with international standards.

"Our demands are as follows: the presence of our expert during all technical assessments and site visits; the immediate provision of requested documents and official orders; and written responses to questions raised within the working group,” the statement reads.It should be recalled that, based on a conclusion issued on September 10, 2026, by the Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau, Public School No. 21 faced complete demolition. Following strong protests from parents, students, teachers, and the public, the Ministry postponed the demolition for one year. However, the agency has now brought the matter back to the agenda and has invited experts to re-evaluate the situation.