The Institute for Retraining and Advanced Training of Managers and Specialists of Preschool Education Organizations, in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank, UNICEF Uzbekistan, and the Science and Innovation International Scientific Journal, conducted the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Preschool Education: Quality and Efficiency, Development Perspectives”.

The conference is organized within the framework of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) funded Enhancing Access to Quality Early Childhood Education Project in Uzbekistan. 

The IsDB project provides US$ 30 million to support the Government of Uzbekistan’s target of achieving universal preschool enrollment by 2028. The project aims to enhance access to quality early childhood education facilities by constructing and equipping preschools and improving the quality of early learning environments through systems strengthening and capacity building.

The conference aims to identify existing problems in preschool education and develop scientific and practical proposals for addressing them. It also aims to discuss modern trends and promising directions and share best practices.

“While we celebrate the progress in expanding access through innovative partnerships and alternative ECE centers, we must also address the factors that continue to influence the quality and inclusiveness of education. Among these, the role of teachers stands out as the cornerstone of quality preschool education”, said Regina Castillo, UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan.

Participants – teachers and lecturers of higher and professional educational institutions, managers and teachers of preschool education organizations, and research staff – underlined that investments in preschool education are essential for ensuring children receive the best possible start in life. It directly influences learning outcomes and has consistently proven to yield the highest returns on investment.

UNICEF is currently providing technical assistance to the Government of Uzbekistan on a project to build the capacity of preschool teachers and managers. 

As a result of joint efforts of UNICEF and the Institute for Retraining and Advanced Training of Managers and Specialists, more than 6,500 teachers are benefiting from a revised in-service training curriculum in 2024. 

The establishment of 11 new in-service training institutes across all regions of Uzbekistan is also expected to ensure the re-training of all preschool teachers in the next five years.

In the last few years, access to preschool education in Uzbekistan increased by 40%. Funding for early innovative public-private partnerships has expanded access to alternative early childhood education models nationwide. Currently, over two million children aged 3-6 are covered by the system of preschool education.

Bekhruz Khudoyberdiyev, photos by Asliddin Alijonov, UzA