Reforming the early childhood education and care (ECEC) system in Ukraine is an integral part of the overall strategy for developing national education. It aims to create high-quality conditions for the comprehensive development of children from an early age.
The government’s main goal in ECEC is to make it accessible for all children. A key priority is removing long waiting lists for early childhood education institutions (ECEIs). The reform includes expanding the number of institutions, including private providers. The government focuses on ensuring high-quality education with skilled and motivated teachers. It promotes modern, safe, comfortable, and inclusive learning environments. The reform aligns ECEC with European standards. It also preserves the cultural values of the Ukrainian people.
2026
From January to March 2026, Ukraine carried out actions to make the educational space safer. These measures also included ECEIs.
Authorities organised a central process to choose which projects would get funding. They selected projects based on clear criteria and gave priority to those that most needed safe conditions. The Ministry of Education and Science approved this process in Order No. 122 on 27 January 2026 ‘On organisational measures for selecting projects for funding from state budget subsidies to local budgets for public investment projects to create safe conditions (including shelters) in general secondary education institutions, including military (naval, military-sports) lyceums, lyceums with enhanced military-physical training, and in preschool education institutions (preschool level) in 2026’.
The government has introduced a system to fund safe educational infrastructure. The main focus was on building shelters and other safety features in ECEIs. To do this, the state budget provided subsidies to local budgets for specific investment projects. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 71 on 23 January 2026 ‘On the approval of the rules and conditions for providing subsidies from the state budget to local budgets for public investment projects to create safe conditions (including shelters) in general secondary education institutions, including military (naval, military-sports) lyceums, lyceums with enhanced military-physical training, and in preschool educational institutions (preschool level)’. This resolution sets the rules and conditions for providing these subsidies. It supports projects that create safe conditions, including shelters, in general secondary schools, military and naval lyceums, sports and military-focused lyceums, and preschools.
These measures help ECEIs continue working during war risks and create a safe environment for children and staff in ECEC.
2025
As of 1 January 2025, the new Law on Early Childhood Education and Care (закон України ‘Про дошкільну освіту’) entered into force. It sets the basis for a complete, high-quality, and accessible system of early childhood education and care.
Officials developed and adopted 57 regulations to implement the new law. These acts covered the organisation of the educational process, safety, funding, quality assurance, human resources, inclusiveness and governance of ECEIs. They also aimed to expand access for the youngest children and to create a more flexible system that reflects the needs of parents and children of all ages.
In the first half of 2025, reforms in ECEC particularly focused on fostering an inclusive and safe learning environment. Authorities systematically monitored shelters in institutions, expanded the network of inclusive groups, and enhanced the professional development of ECEC staff. There was a special emphasis on safety skills for both learners and educators. They focused on helping children and teachers learn safety skills during wartime risks.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the government approved a new State Standard for Preschool Education. It defines the content of education, the expected learning outcomes, and the key competencies of children.
The standard gives a common framework for ECEIs and for creating education programmes. It allows ECEIs to make their own decisions, gives teachers academic freedom, and lets them choose educational programmes. It also focuses the educational process on the needs and abilities of each child.
The standard will start on 1 September 2027. During the transition period, ECEIs will test it and update their programmes to meet the new requirements.
2024
On 6 June 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the new Law of Ukraine on Early Childhood Education and Care, which entered into force on 1 January 2025. The law sets the legal, organisational, and economic rules for the ECEC system. It helps children grow and develop in a complete way. Children learn, train, and socialise. They also develop important life skills and competencies. The law creates good conditions for the fast growth of high-quality and accessible ECEC. It also aims to balance the interests of everyone involved in education.
The main purpose of the law is to improve the functioning of the ECEC system by:
- Making use of the institutional experience gained since Ukraine’s independence,
- Ensuring equal and barrier-free access to quality ECEC for all Ukrainians,
- Introducing alternative financing mechanisms for ECEC,
- Provide ECEC and additional state attention to children from birth,
- To promote the autonomy of ECEIs and the academic freedom of teachers,
- To develop ECEIs of all forms of ownership and other educational institutions,
- To improve the quality of ECEC.
The law emphasises improving teacher training and expanding access to quality ECEC, which is the basis for successful schooling.
In order to provide children with quality and accessible ECEC and to protect the rights of all participants in the educational process, the document introduces the following main changes:
- 56 calendar days of annual leave for all teaching staff in ECEIs;
- Reducing the workload of educators, methodologists, sports instructors, psychologists, social workers and educational assistants.
- Allowing ECEIs’ founders to set higher salaries, bonuses, allowances and additional rewards, including payments for exceeding group size norms.
- Executive authorities and local governments must ensure territorial accessibility to ECEC for all participants.
- Granting parents the right to design an individual educational path for their children and to choose the form of ECEC.
- Granting parents the right to pedagogical support.
- Allowing ECEIs to introduce different educational formats: on-site, network-based and/or distance.
- Allowing the creation of new types of ECEIs such as mobile preschools, mini-kindergartens and pedagogical partnership centres.
- Making educational programmes and sub-programmes follow a common standard.
- Approving a clear procedure for enrolling children in public ECEIs based on their local area.
- Requiring ECEIs’ founders to provide educators with play materials, teaching tools, and necessary equipment.
- Introducing specific conditions for the closure of rural and special kindergartens.
- Establishing conditions for the appointment and duration of ECEIs’ managers.
- Regulating the format of pedagogical councils and institutional audits.
The status of the reform component – early stage of implementation.
On 11 March 2024, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine presented its Strategic plan of activities until 2027 (Стратегічний план діяльності Міністерства освіти і науки України до 2027 року), based on the Vision for the Future of Education and Science (Візії майбутнього освіти і науки). ECEC is the top priority among the Ministry’s strategic goals.
The strategic plan outlines eight key initiatives to reform the ECEC system, taking into account the challenges posed by martial law:
- State standard for preschool education: Updating the content of education for infants and pre-school children in line with the European Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care. Ensure continuity between pre-school and primary education. Modernising the educational environment of ECEC providers according to the principles of universal design.
- My Fortress initiative: Providing every ECEI with reliable shelters that are inclusive and friendly to all participants in the educational process, ensuring protection, collective and individual safety.
- Protection Policy: Develop a policy to protect children from physical, psychological and sexual violence.
- Transforming the pay system in ECEIs: Designing and piloting a new salary system for early childhood education staff.
- Digitisation of ECEC: Implementing an electronic enrolment queue in all ECEIs in the country, modernising material and technical resources, and equipping ECEIs with laptops and tablets to improve working conditions and communication with parents.
- Introduction of English in ECEIs: Developing and implementing procedures for teaching English in early childhood education centres.
- Quick Start: Designing and implementing a condensed training course for early childhood educators to facilitate entry into the profession and partially address the shortage of staff in ECEC.
- Alternative forms of ECEI: Designing effective solutions for alternative types of kindergartens and further implementing them in areas with different conditions (taking into account security situations, infrastructure damage, number of children, demographic trends, population composition and economic development).
The document also outlines strategic and operational goals, tasks, and performance indicators.
If the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine completes all key initiatives and goals of its Strategic Plan for ECEC reform by 2027, it will achieve the following results:
- For learners: They will get high-quality and inclusive preschool education, including children with special needs, no matter where they live. Schools and preschools will provide safe, friendly, and barrier-free learning environments. Education will help children build key skills and abilities for future life. A guarantee of high-quality and accessible ECEC for children, including those with SEN, regardless of their place of birth and residence. The educational environment is safe, friendly, and barrier-free. Education is aimed at developing key competencies and cross-cutting skills necessary for success in further active life.
- For teachers: They will feel motivated with competitive pay. They can grow professionally and improve teaching quality. Teachers will use modern teaching methods, new equipment, and digital tools.
- For parents: They can trust professionals to care for their children while they work. They can choose different types of preschools and learning formats to fit their children’s needs and possibilities. Parents will know their children learn in safe and inclusive environments that respect each child’s needs.
- For the country: Parents will have more time for full-time work and professional growth. This will raise economic productivity, tax revenues, economic growth, and human capital index. It will also give the country competitive professionals and strengthen national resilience.
The status of the reform component – early stage of implementation.