New kindergartens and higher salaries for educators: significant reforms are on the horizon for preschool education.

Starting from January 1, 2025, the Law on "Preschool Education" will come into effect in Ukraine, bringing significant changes for educators, parents, and children. The new measures aim to enhance working conditions for staff, optimize the network of kindergartens, and introduce innovative approaches to education.

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According to Deputy Minister of Education and Science Andriy Vitrenko, one of the key innovations will be the optimization of working hours and a fair increase in salaries for educators and their assistants. These changes are aimed at improving working conditions for teachers to make the profession more attractive. The Ministry of Education is already working on drafting regulatory legal acts that will detail these provisions.

The law provides for the creation of new formats of preschool institutions:

• Mini-kindergartens – for communities with a small number of children. They help avoid high expenses associated with maintaining large buildings.
• Family gardens – allow for childcare in a family-style setting.
• Corporate gardens will be established at enterprises for the convenience of parents.
• Mobile gardens – these are mobile establishments that provide preschool education in wartime conditions. A pilot project created in collaboration with UNICEF involves the use of special vehicles equipped with everything necessary for education and childcare.

The goal of optimizing the network of kindergartens is to make preschool education more accessible to a larger number of children. Local self-government bodies will now be responsible for resource provision of institutions and fair remuneration for staff.

Another innovation will be the teaching of English in kindergartens. This will ensure early exposure to the language and prepare children for further schooling.