Implementation of Free School Readiness Program Discussed in Ashgabat

On February 20, a meeting in the "Direct Talk" format was held at the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. Representatives of the Government, the UN, and UNICEF discussed issues of accelerating access to preschool education for all children in the country, which is a strategic step for the education system. The event was attended by heads of the ministries of education, finance, and economy, relevant agencies, and the National Institute of Education. The international side was represented by UN Resident Coordinator Dmitry Shlapachenko, UNICEF Representative Jalpa Ratna, as well as international experts who joined via digital communication. The main focus was on models that will make quality preparation accessible to everyone: - From September 2026: It is planned to launch a pilot program for free school readiness. It is designed for one year and involves classes in a half-day format. - From September 2027: Based on the results of the pilot project and sustainable financing mechanisms, it is planned to gradually expand the program throughout the country. - Support for parents: Participants discussed the results of family assistance programs and ways to integrate this support into the state system on a permanent basis. Investment in early childhood development is considered the most effective investment in the future. The new initiatives allow every child, regardless of their place of residence, to receive high-quality preschool preparation on equal terms. The implementation of free programs will significantly reduce the financial burden on family budgets, and a systematic approach will provide methodological support for teachers and ensure modern regular monitoring of results. Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their commitment to developing the direction of early childhood development and supporting parents. Participants agreed to continue joint work on preparing practical steps to implement the discussed initiatives and integrate them into the national education system.