‘Kindergarten On Wheels’ Delivers School To Children In Out-Of-Reach Areas

Image courtesy of DBLA /  Ministry of Preschool Education of Uzbekistan

A child’s crucial years are sometimes restricted only by where they live. In 2017, only a quarter of children in Uzbekistan had access to preschool education due to distance issues, and nine out of 10 kids in remote areas had no way of reaching it at all, according to an initiative run by the government. That means most eligible children had been locked out from getting preschool education.

The Ministry of Preschool Education in Uzbekistan has remediated this by building more kindergartens near rural regions. Unfortunately, there were still places, including mountainous terrain, in which construction was just not feasible. That’s why the government is now transporting schools directly to young children who live in hard-to-reach areas with ‘Kindergarten on Wheels’.

Image courtesy of DBLA /  Ministry of Preschool Education of Uzbekistan

Yellow school buses with googly eyes now serve as mobile classrooms in villages and other inaccessible parts of the country. They take teachers to those regions to conduct lessons for kids under the age of six, who are also given essential materials for learning.

Image courtesy of DBLA /  Ministry of Preschool Education of Uzbekistan

“The Kindergarten on Wheels idea came about when we saw children playing along the roads instead of being in a kindergarten,” says Shaknoza Mirziyoeva, Advisor to the Uzbekistan Ministry of Preschool Education on Equality and Inclusion in Education. “Due to work commitments, parents didn’t have the time to look after [their children], nevermind teach the kids themselves.”

“These kids still need an education and care so this project was created to bring the education to them,” adds Mirziyoeva.

Image courtesy of DBLA /  Ministry of Preschool Education of Uzbekistan

The Kindergarten on Wheels idea has reached UNESCO, which lauds the program as an exemplary case for other parts of the world where literacy rates are lower.

“Giving all children access to pre-school education that is inclusive, caring and creative is the key to nurturing their full potential,” describes Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO. “Uzbekistan’s Kindergarten On Wheels project offers a model that can inspire countries around the world to reach this goal.”

Image courtesy of DBLA /  Ministry of Preschool Education of Uzbekistan

In the last five years, Uzbekistan has raised preschool enrollments from 27% to 67%, shares Shaknoza. The literal school buses will no doubt increase this number. By 2026, the country hopes to give 80% of preschoolers and 98% of six-year-olds free and compulsory education in preparation for elementary school.

[via DBLA, images featured with permission]