On 3 May 2019 presentation of the new preschool educational institution “Nawshe” operations took place in the Kanlykul district of Karakalpakstan.

At the beginning of 2019, the UN Joint Programme “Building the resilience of communities affected by the Aral Sea disaster through the Multi-partner Human Security Fund for the Aral Sea” and the UN Development Programme Project “Empowering Women to Participate in Public Administration and Socio-Economic Life” within UNDP Funding Window initiative announced a contest to support first-time entrepreneurs. Among business ideas, the interview panel was interested in the project of preschool education enhancement. Tazagul Turemuratova from the Kanlykul district of Karakalpakstan told about the recent launch of a kindergarten for local children, about the importance of using modern equipment for interactive lessons. In practice, this would allow keeping children focused on the most interesting and exciting moments throughout classes, without losing their attention during the lesson.

50 children aged 3 to 7 years old are taught in the Knowledge House for Preschool Children “Nawshe” since its launch in December 2018. Six days a week, from 09:00 to 19:00, children learn in a playful manner, go for sports, attend various hobby groups, and all this is done according to a methodic specially developed for them. At the same time, nursery teachers noted that just explaining a subject and showing pictures is not enough for modern children. In the digital age and information visualization era, children need to be taught according to new standards, which became possible thanks to technical assistance from the UN Joint Programme.

According to the contest results in April 2019, the necessary equipment - interactive whiteboards and touch panels - was provided to the kindergarten. Nursery and specialized teachers were trained on how to use new equipment.

“Thanks to our district women's council, I found out about contest organized by the UN Joint Programme within UNDP Funding Window initiative in our Karakalpakstan. Together with my colleagues, we created a business plan, defined which equipment is necessary to develop new knowledge and skills of our students, and now children study with interest and teachers can easily explain new topics. I am very grateful to the organizers of this contest for such support and I believe that all preschool institutions need such experience”, said Tazagul Turemuratova - director of the preschool educational institution “Nawshe”.

Parents and teachers already noted the benefits of working with children in a new way using interactive whiteboards and touch panels and software.

“Children are our future. Today is also a kind of Open day for us. We are happy to learn everything that our children are learning through new technologies provided by UNDP. I have not seen such interesting screens that are activated with one touch and change images following a movement of the hand, in any other preschool educational institution. I used to persuade my grandson to go to kindergarten, but now classes are interesting game with vivid pictures for him and he happily runs in the morning. I am grateful to the leadership of our country for creating the conditions and for support. I sincerely wish health and well-being to all the staff of our kindergarten, in particular, I am glad that children learn English from an early age”, said Barshingul Yesimbetova, grandmother of one of “Nawshe” kindergarten students.

“Before, we have had to print out a large number of educational materials developed by ourselves. And now we use new equipment, which allows us to visualize main topics, show children various interesting details on the screens, and children not only listen but also participate in presentations. I am glad that students began to show interest in knowledge, they constantly ask different questions. I can feel the difference and already see the result as a teacher. I’m sure that our little “whyers” will grow up to be good people, and they will be able to glorify our land to the whole world”, said Sapargul Saryibaeva, English teacher in the preschool educational institution “Nawshe”.

In total, 543 preschool educational institutions operate in Karakalpakstan today, with more than 67,090 children enrolled. Resolution of the President dated September 30, 2017, No. PP-3305 “On the organization of activities of the Ministry of Preschool Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan” is encouraging development and enhancement of preschool education. This document provides for expansion of the network of state and non-state preschool educational institutions, enabling an environment for creating healthy competition among state and private kindergartens.

One of the goals of the UN Joint Program is to ensure social security by improving preschool and school education systems in the pilot districts of Karakalpakstan on the way to achieving SDG No. 4 “Quality Education”.