Institute for Retraining and Advanced Training of Managers and Specialists of Preschool Education Organizations, in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank(IsB), UNICEF Uzbekistan and 'Science and Innovation' International Scientific journal, conducted the International Scientific and Practical conference 'Preschool education: quality and efficiency, development perspectives'.
The conference is part of the Islamic Development Bank(IsDB) -funded Enhancing Access to Quality Early Childhood Education Project in Uzbekistan. This project, with an investment of US$ 30 million, supports Uzbekistan's target of achieving universal preschool enrollment by 2028. The project aims at enhancing access to high-quality early childhood education through building and equipping preschools, enhancing learning environments, and strengthening systems through capacity-building efforts.
This conference aims at the current challenges in the preschool sector with regard to developing scientific and practical solutions, along with discussing new trends in early childhood education and sharing successful practices and innovative strategies.
“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 pre-school 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 pre-school education is 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. Every dollar invested in early childhood education generates up to 13 USD in returns over the course of a child’s life.
UNICEF is currently providing technical assistance to the Government of Uzbekistan within the project on the capacity building 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. It is also expected that the establishment of 11 new in-service training institutes across all regions of Uzbekistan will ensure the re-training of all pre-school teachers in future five years.
In the last few years, access to preschool education in Uzbekistan increased by 40%. Funding for early innovative public-private partnerships have expanded access to alternative early childhood education models across the country. Currently, over two million children aged 3–6 are covered by the system of preschool education.
Enhanced teaching practices directly impacts children’s learning and development. It is expected that qualified trained teachers will improve the overall early childhood education experiences, fostering an environment of play, joy, safe learning and reflective practice to develop foundational skills.
