New early childhood education framework to drive forward access to quality, inclusive and sustainable services
The Ministry of Education and Science launches its ‘Transformation of Early Childhood Education in Ukraine’, convening an alliance of partners to enact reforms and Ukraine’s recovery.
KYIV, 13 May 2025 - The youngest children, their caregivers and teachers are set to benefit from improved access to quality, inclusive and sustainable early childhood education (ECE) services through the transformation of the ECE sector in Ukraine.
The development of the ‘Strategic Framework for Early Childhood Education’ will form the basis of a national investment agenda aimed at restoring and developing the sector's quality and resilience, strengthening Ukraine’s recovery today and building its human capital for tomorrow.
The draft Strategic Framework was officially presented today at the "First Steps Forward", Human Dimension Preparatory Event ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in July 2025 (URC-2025).
The event, organized by the Ministry of Education and Science, with support from UNICEF, gathered key national and international partners to align on a shared vision, priorities, and financial tools needed to build a high-quality, inclusive, and sustainable ECE system in Ukraine.
This alliance of partners, including the European Union Delegation to Ukraine, the Government of Finland, Global Partnership for Education, UNESCO, UNICEF, and the World Bank will support the development and implementation of the ECE transformation framework.
"Preschool education is the foundation from which the country’s recovery begins. The law that came into force in early 2025 has opened up opportunities for the systemic changes we’ve long awaited. Together with international partners, we are working on a strategic framework — a shared vision that will guide investments in what matters most: child development, family support, quality infrastructure, skilled professionals, inclusion, and children’s emotional well-being. Because quality early childhood education is not only about learning — it’s about women’s participation in rebuilding the economy, about how communities grow stronger, and how the country becomes more resilient," said Anastasiia Konovalova, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine.
"Children who are engaged in quality early childhood education get the best foundation for lifelong learning and development,” said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine. “That’s why investing in early childhood education today is imperative to ensure the youngest children grow up to realize their full potential and play a key role in driving progress for Ukraine’s future,” added Mammadzade.
ECE also plays a critical socio-economic role. Access to quality ECE directly influences decisions by internally displaced Ukrainians and diaspora families to return home, and has the potential to promote women's re-entry into the labor market — an essential factor for Ukraine’s recovery and resilience.
“Expanding access to quality and affordable preschool and childcare is one of the most important investments Ukraine can make to build human capital, promote social cohesion, and empower women to participate in economic recovery and growth,” said Bob Saum, World Bank Regional Division Director for Eastern Europe. “We are proud to support the transformation of preschool education in Ukraine with the Ministry of Education and Science through the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-funded program, SPIRIT.”
Since the full-scale invasion began, the number of children enrolled in preschool institutions has dropped by 25% compared to 2021. As of April 2025, more than 157,000 children have been unable to attend kindergartens in person. A significant portion of the early learning infrastructure has been destroyed or is in need of modernization.
The Strategic Framework will address these pressing challenges head-on. It will also provide a clear roadmap for implementing reforms in line with EU standards and advancing Ukraine’s European integration.
This builds on the new Law on Preschool Education, which came into force in January 2025, laying the foundation for systemic reform. The preparation of the Strategic Framework will bring together national and international stakeholders around a common vision for ECE development — with a strong focus on investment, workforce, infrastructure, inclusion, and the emotional well-being of young children.
Following today’s event, the framework will be refined, and its final version presented during URC-2025 in Rome.
ECE must become a driving force in Ukraine’s recovery. Quality early childhood education is not only about a child’s development — it also enables the return of displaced families and diaspora, supports women’s re-entry and participation into the labor market, and strengthens social capital and community resilience.