Estonia reaffirms support for early childhood education in Ukraine at international conference in Rome
The Ukrainian government, the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), six donor countries and 14 international organisations affirmed the importance of early childhood education at a recent conference on Ukrainian reconstruction.
The joint statement declared support for a strategic plan to promote early childhood education in Ukraine, which aims to ensure that by 2030, 50% of children under three years of age and 96% of children aged 3-6 years attend childcare institutions that provide high-quality age-appropriate education and care on a daily basis.
An effective, inclusive and resilient early childhood education system is essential for Ukraine's development. However, due to the war of Russian aggression, 320,000 preschool-aged children in Ukraine do not have access to early childhood education today. In frontline areas, 86% of children under six years of age have shown signs of social and emotional developmental delays. However, the first six years of a child's life are of critical importance to their future growth and development. Opportunities missed during this window of growth are difficult to compensate for later. The statement acknowledges that Ukrainian early childhood education is not able to meet the country's current challenges.
The strategic framework outlined in the joint statement lays the foundation for the systematic restoration and transformation of early childhood education in Ukraine, which is also one of the priorities of Estonian development cooperation in Ukraine.
By signing the joint statement, Estonia confirms its readiness to share its experience in reforming early childhood education systems, share professional know-how and facilitate partnerships between Estonian organisations and their Ukrainian counterparts.
Through development cooperation, ESTDEV has promoted high-quality early childhood education in Ukraine since the first days of the war. In fact, the first large-scale Estonian reconstruction project in Ukraine was the construction of the Ovruch kindergarten with room for eight groups and professional development for the school's teachers.
In addition to infrastructure investments, ESTDEV's education programme focuses on the digitalisation of early childhood education through the development of teachers' digital competencies and the introduction of innovative educational technology solutions. With Estonian support, a speech therapy platform supporting language development has been introduced in Ukraine to improve the learning opportunities of children with speech disorders and strengthen cooperation between families and specialists.
"Estonian experience shows that high-quality, inclusive early childhood education helps prevent inequality, supports families and creates a strong foundation for the entire educational path," said Kristi Kulu, the programme manager for Education at ESTDEV.
"In the reconstruction of Ukraine, the early childhood education system plays a central role not only in supporting children's development but also in supporting the recovery of communities, the return of women to the workforce and the building of a sustainable and inclusive society. This is precisely why ESTDEV considers it important to contribute to international cooperation that supports the development of a flexible, child-centred early childhood education system in Ukraine," said Kulu.
In addition to Estonia, government agencies from six other countries, including the ministries or embassies of Ukraine, Italy, Finland, Lithuania, Belgium and Sweden, and 14 international organisations, including the World Bank, OECD, UNICEF and UNESCO, signed the joint statement.
Read the statement's full text here:
Joint Statement of the Government of Ukraine and development partners on Early Childhood Education and Care in Ukraine
Announced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, 10-11 July 2025 – Rome
We, the undersigned partners and supporters of Ukraine’s education recovery (listed in Annex 1), affirm our shared commitment to advancing quality, inclusive, and resilient early childhood education and care (ECEC) as a foundational pillar for Ukraine’s reconstruction and future development.
Today, 320,000 young children in Ukraine have no access to in-person ECEC. In frontline regions, 86% of children under six are experiencing delays in social and emotional development. These are children who were born just before the COVID-19 pandemic and have lived their earliest years in disrupted environments—exposed to toxic stress and without consistent access to play, learning, and nurturing care. The consequences are profound and could cause lasting harm to the brain and body if not mitigated.. The first six years of life provide a critical window of opportunity to shape the trajectory of children’s growth and development—and cannot be repeated.
The current ECEC system was not built to address the realities Ukraine faces today. While many kindergartens offer valuable services, they were designed for a different time. The combined impact of war, population shifts, and economic pressures calls for diversified models of delivery—especially in areas where traditional kindergartens are no longer viable or sustainable. Ukraine’s transformation requires new methods to reach children where they are—through mobile kindergartens, home- and workplace-based options, and other flexible forms of care. These new methods are crucial not only for adapting to current challenges but also because access to quality ECE plays a critical socio-economic role, directly influencing the return of displaced Ukrainians and re-entry of women into the labour market. This is especially significant given Ukraine`s ongoing integration into the European Union, where strong reform momentum continues across all education sub-sectors, including ECE.
Together, we have built the ECEC Strategic Framework to guide efforts to rebuild and transform the ECEC system in Ukraine—ensuring that no child is left behind and that services reflect the needs and aspirations of today’s families and educators. The framework is structured around six national aims:
- Supply: Expand and adapt infrastructure and service models to meet new safety and demographic realities.
- Access: Ensure equitable access to affordable, flexible, and locally appropriate ECEC services.
- Inclusion: Guarantee that children with disabilities and special educational needs are fully supported and included.
- Quality: Improve standards, teacher training, and working conditions to ensure all children receive meaningful early learning.
- Parent and Community Engagement: Strengthen family and community roles in supporting child development and reshaping norms around caregiving.
- Data: Build reliable, real-time systems to track needs, outcomes, and service delivery.
This Strategic Framework also advances Ukraine’s commitment to meet the EU Barcelona Targets by 2030: ensuring that at least 50% of children under age 3 and 96% of children aged 3–6 are enrolled in high-quality early childhood education and care.
We do not simply acknowledge these goals—we are committed to supporting and contributing to their realisation. Our collaboration brings together technical knowledge, policy dialogue, and programmatic investments aimed at delivering tangible results for young children and their families.
This joint statement, announced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, represents our shared endorsement of Ukraine’s vision for transforming the ECEC system. It affirms our belief that ECEC is not only a social good but a vital foundation for Ukraine’s recovery, resilience, and long-term prosperity.
Together, we declare: Ukraine’s youngest children cannot wait. Their right to care, learning, and protection must be guaranteed—starting now.
Related articles
