UNICEF in ActionUNICEF assists the Kyrgyz Governmentin developing national policy and standards for early childhood development and helps communities and families to open community kindergarten. The goal is to ensure that at least 50 percent of pre-school-age children and their parents, especially from excluded groups, participate in community-driven health, nutrition and early learning activities before the end of 2010. UNICEF works with governmental and non-governmental organisations and donors to develop and provide quality pre-school services for children and upgrade the qualifications of pre-school workers. Children under seven and their parents benefit from community-based kindergartens in the poorest areas in the south of the Republic and in two migrant communities near the capital Bishkek. Established with UNICEF support, these kindergartens are promoted by local authorities and implemented by public and private service providers. In one of the poorest areas in the south of the Republic, a pre-school class in the local secondary school opened to expand access to pre-school-age children and improve their primary school readiness. In pre-school, children have an opportunity to learn new concepts, improve critical thinking and logic skills, and get prepared socially, intellectually and cognitively for the transition to first grade. UNICEF helps communities to: organise local events to discuss concerns; identify needs; find possible solutions; share best practices and information on childcare and development; and take appropriate actions. UNICEF helps families obtain useful information and tools for interacting with their children through books, videos, radio programmes, and the internet www.baldar.kg. A kindergarten in Batken broke a barrier by accepting a mentally impaired child
|
