Preschool education coverage to rise from 51% to 60% by 2026 - draft government program
The draft government action program provides that the preschool education coverage rate in Ukraine should increase from 51% to 60% by the end of 2026.
According to the provisions of the draft action program, which concerns the Ministry of Education and Science, the government intends to expand access to quality preschool education and care for children from one year old and stimulate the return of women to the labor market, introduce mechanisms for co-financing kindergartens at enterprises by business and the community on the principle of "funds follow the child."
In particular, the government provides for additional financing of preschool education through the program to support working mothers e-Nursery and e-Kindergarten for children under three years old (the program is implemented jointly with the Ministry of Social Policy).
By December 31, 2025, the State Standard of Preschool Education must be approved in accordance with the requirements of the European Union; 100 locations of new types of institutions providing preschool education services are opened with funding from local budgets and partners; The mechanism for implementing the e-Nursery and e-Kindergarten programs (for children under three years old) was approved. A program was developed and an agreement was concluded on financing preschool and inclusive education as part of additional financing jointly with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development of the project "Enhancing the Accessibility and Resilience of Education in Crisis Conditions in Ukraine" in the amount of $30 million.
It is expected that by the end of 2026 up to 100,000 households with children under three years old will be covered by the e-Nursery and e-Kindergarten programs. Some 500 new locations will be opened to provide preschool education and care services for children from one year old, in particular in front-line regions.