The significance of early and preschool education for a child’s holistic development is scientifically proven across the globe.
According to the 2009 PISA PLUS Report, preschool attendance by children plays a key role in explaining some differences in performance later. Data show that students who attended at least one year of preschool education perform better than others.
Students with preschool education perform better later
According to TIMSS 2011 (trends in international mathematics and science study), students in Georgia who attended preschool education institutions scored 462 in science compared to 439 on average for their counterparts who never attended preschool services.
Waves of educational reform for the last decade in Georgia have not impacted significantly the field of early and preschool education. However, with the first ever law on early and preschool education and care adopted by the Parliament of Georgia in June 2016, with UNICEF’s technical assistance, the government has committed to major reforms in the sector, targeting particular improvements in equitable access and quality of services.
The law retains the decentralized early and preschool education system with municipal governments in charge of provision, management and funding of public services for children from age two to primary school entrance at age six.
Creating new standards for preschool education
The law also introduces mandatory national standards for all public and private preschool institutions to be implemented and monitored through an authorization mechanism.
National standards will set quality targets for education, nutrition, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) and infrastructure. The major achievement of the law is that it grants every child the right to receive preschool education.
Given the current attendance rate among 3-5 year old children is at 62%, reaching universal accessibility to early childhood care and education will require a significant increase in government investment in the sector.
The new law places equity front and center
In this process equity issues will need to be considered, since currently many disadvantaged children, in comparison to their peers, are not able to benefit from early and preschool education services.
Inclusive and child-centered education is at the core of the new law. The law provides legislative basis for eliminating and preventing all forms of violence against young children in preschools.
Achieving the ambitious goal of universal access to quality early and preschool education for all young children in Georgia requires strong commitment and coordination mechanisms to be established between central and local governments.
Strengthening local governments’ capacity in the field and creating efficient pre and in-service training system for preschool professionals requires further investments in making sure that a strong foundation is provided for accessible and quality services throughout the country.
UNICEF has a proven track record in this area, and our expertise and technical assistance are available to the government of Georgia to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the law.