Abkhazia education ministry accuses political party of textbook interference

Abkhazia's Ministry of Education has accused a pro-government political party of interfering in state schooling after it hosted the launch of a new language textbook.

The ministry strongly criticised the United Abkhazia party for holding a presentation for a fourth-grade Abkhaz language textbook at its political headquarters.

Education officials warned that only the ministry has the legal authority to recommend teaching materials, adding that the book's authors must follow established trial procedures.

Under the rules, new textbooks must undergo mandatory testing in pilot classes before they can be considered for approval by the ministry's board.

The book, designed for schools where Abkhaz is not the primary language of instruction, was written by Ada Kvarchelia, a former deputy education minister who is now deputy chair of the United Abkhazia party.

"The main goal of this textbook is to help children see the Abkhaz language not as a school subject, but as a living means of communication," Kvarchelia said. "Its bilingual format makes it suitable for pupils in non-Abkhaz schools and helps children of different ethnic backgrounds learn the language."

The dispute comes amid an ongoing debate in Abkhazia over why the state language has failed to become dominant, as envisaged by the constitution, while Russian continues to prevail.

Education experts have blamed a lack of modern teaching methods and up-to-date materials for the decline, making the launch of a new textbook highly politically charged.

However, the ministry insisted that textbook presentations must only take place in academic and educational institutions, rather than political party offices.