The government of Tajikistan approved the “Program for the Development of Preschool Education and Training in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2026–2030” on Feb. 27. By the end of the program, authorities plan to build 800 new preschool institutions and increase enrollment for children ages 3 to 6 to more than 50%, the press center of the Ministry of Education and Science said.

The program aims to accelerate the construction of preschool institutions, create a favorable environment for children’s education and training, expand high-quality access to early education, and improve the qualifications of personnel in the field.

It is also designed to strengthen the legal, economic, and organizational foundations of the preschool education system and enhance the quality of education and training for children.

To increase access to preschool education, the ministry approved a “Model of the Building of Early Childhood Development Centers” and issued a list of equipment for early childhood development groups to education departments in cities and districts. The ministry also prepared a “Program of Early Childhood Education and Upbringing” emphasizing learning through play, as well as a “Manual for Educational Centers for Coordinating Early Childhood Development.”

An Advisory Council for Coordination of Inclusive Preschool Education was established under the ministry to regulate and coordinate the activities of preschools, early childhood development centers, and other alternative programs.

As of now, 3,154 early childhood development centers have been established under general education institutions, serving 182,744 children. This represents an increase of 270 centers and 51,427 children compared with the same period in 2024.

Overall, preschool education currently covers 310,657 children, or 30.1% of the age group, an increase of 65,370 children, or 6.9%, from 2024.

In his Dec. 28, 2024, message on the main directions of domestic and foreign policy, President Emomali Rahmon stressed that within five years, the country should ensure the construction of 800 preschool institutions and more than 1,000 general education schools, aiming to cover 50% of preschool-aged children.