The Government of Uzbekistan aimed to improve the country’s Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) services to ensure universal enrolment at primary and secondary schools. Towards this end, UNICEF complemented the Government of Uzbekistan’s efforts by providing technical support in mapping preschool education policies & programmes and identifying barriers to the participation of parents and the community in ECCE.
We undertook a comprehensive Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) study to assess Uzbekistan’s demand for and participation in ECCE services. The study determined young children’s (aged 0-6 years) physical, psychological, and cognitive needs, and assessed perceptions towards the nature, quality, and affordability of services provided in the ECCE centres. As part of the study, we developed Behaviour Change Communication Strategies (BCCS) to enhance the demand for ECCE services. In addition, based on the analysis, we developed baseline indicators and rationales for future investments aimed at improving equitable access and quality enhancement of ECCE programmes by the Government of Uzbekistan.
