On December 19, a meeting devoted to the analysis of reforms implemented in the system of preschool education and tasks for the future was held under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. 

Preschool education is the primary and most important link in the education system. Formation of a healthy gene pool and qualified personnel begins with this. 

However, up to now, this system has lagged behind in development. Over the past 20 years, the number of state preschool education institutions has decreased by 45 percent. As a result, only 33 percent of preschool children were covered by kindergartens. In Denmark, this figure is 99, in Japan – 97, in South Korea – 95 percent. 

Educational programs on socio-personal, emotional, speech, mathematical, physical-psychological and creative development of children were not introduced in preschool education institutions. 

In general, kindergartens have become institutions in which children are looked after while their parents are at work. 

The President of our country Shavkat Mirziyoyev pays special attention to this sphere, which has an important place in ensuring the future of the country and its development. During the trips to the regions, the Head of our state personally gets acquainted with activities of preschool education institutions. Several meetings were held on development of this sphere under his chairmanship. 

Current tasks and priority areas facing the sphere are determined in the Decree of the Head of our state “On measures of radically improving the management of preschool education system” of September 30 this year. The Ministry of Preschool Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan was organized on the same day by a resolution of the President. 

Targets were set before the new ministry on expanding the network of state and non-state institutions of preschool education, strengthening their material and technical base, providing with qualified pedagogical staff, increasing the coverage of children with kindergartens, radically improving the quality of preparing children for school through the introduction of modern educational programs and technologies into the educational process. 

A corresponding state program has been adopted in this direction, large-scale activity is carried out within its framework. Territorial administrations and district (city) departments of the ministry have been organized, great attention is paid to improving the situation at places, the construction of new kindergartens, including the expansion of the network of non-state kindergartens. 

Activity that is being carried out in the sphere was discussed at the meeting. 

The President of our country analyzed the state of affairs in the system of preschool education in the context of the regions, pointed out the problems and shortcomings pending solution. In particular, incompleteness of preschool education institutions and inadequate staff potential were noted. More than 57 thousand specialists are working in the sphere, 85 percent of which are staff with secondary special education, which does not allow to ensure the proper level of preparation of children for school. 

The fact that preschool education institutions were not provided with children’s imaginative literature for years, parents lost trust in kindergartens, many problems accumulated in the system over the years, were criticized.