Uzbekistan will establish a Regional Center for Preschool Education Development in Tashkent to advance research, teacher training and international cooperation in early childhood education, according to a Cabinet resolution adopted on August 18.
The center will be located at 64 Yusuf Khos Khojib Street in Yakkasaray district and operate as part of the Institute for Preschool Education Development without separate legal-entity status. One of its key responsibilities will be to strengthen regional and international cooperation in preschool education, including joint research into preschool education programs and teaching methods used in UNESCO member states.
The center will also study international best practices in early childhood development and develop proposals for introducing new approaches to the retraining and professional development of preschool educators. It is expected to organize international training programs, seminars and conferences and contribute to the development and implementation of early childhood education programs.
The institution is being established based on decisions adopted during the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, held in Samarkand from October 30 to November 13, 2025. These decisions included establishing an institute in Tashkent for retraining and professional development of directors and specialists of preschool education organisations, with a view to the institution potentially receiving the status of a Category 2 Institute under UNESCO in the future.
The centre will have 16 staff positions, while its activities will be coordinated by a Management Board. It will be headed by a director appointed by the Minister of Preschool and School Education.
Funding for the center’s operations in 2026 will come from funds allocated to the Ministry of Preschool and School Education from the state budget, while from 2027, financing will be provided within the state budget parameters.
As earlier reported, Uzbekistan is also expanding preschool education through private-sector participation, including plans to allow non-state schools and preschools to offer one-year preparatory programmes, alongside measures to improve teaching quality and increase preschool coverage.
