Naimakhon, third-grade student at the Kosonsoy district public school #49, beneficiary of the home-visiting program piloted at the Early Learning Hub in Kosonsoy city. Image Credit: Courtesy of World Bank
Society UzbekistanPreschool expansion transforms young lives
Millions more children are gaining access to quality early education in Uzbekistan, helping them build stronger foundations for learning while creating new opportunities for families and working mothers.
“I feel so happy when I see these kids performing well now,” said Saida Parpieva, a teacher who delivered home-based preschool lessons to children in remote communities.
Since 2017, preschool enrolment has risen from 27% to 75%, with more than 3 million children aged three to seven now learning in around 7,000 public and over 31,000 non-public preschools and kindergartens. The programme has expanded services for children in rural and low-income communities through home visits, Early Learning Hubs and mobile kindergartens, while also supporting children with developmental delays. Between 2018 and 2022, the number of preschools tripled, contributing to an estimated 12% increase in female labour force participation and creating hundreds of new jobs for women.
