Quality in Focus: Advancing Standards in Early Childhood Education and Care in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo, 23 October 2025 – A roundtable titled “Quality in Focus: Standards of Quality and Evaluation in Early Childhood Education and Care” was held today at the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, bringing together representatives of education authorities, academia, and preschool institutions to discuss ways to advance the quality of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in the country.

The event, organized by the Agency for Preschool, Primary and Secondary Education (APOSO) in partnership with UNICEF, emphasized the importance of ensuring that every child in Bosnia and Herzegovina has access to safe, inclusive, and high-quality early learning opportunities.

While Bosnia and Herzegovina has expanded access to preschool education, participation rates remain among the lowest in Europe, around 13% for children aged 0–2 and 43% for children aged 3–5. With the country committed to Sustainable Development Goal 4.2 - ensuring quality early childhood education for all by 2030, quality must progress hand in hand with access.

To support this, APOSO, with UNICEF’s technical assistance, developed the Standards of Quality of Work of Preschool Institutions, a national framework for guiding, assessing, and improving preschool quality across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Expansion of access to ECE services must go hand in hand with quality of service delivery. At the heart of improving quality is investing in people because teacher qualifications and professional development directly affect children’s learning and well-being. The Standards for Quality of Preschool Institutions developed by APOSO with UNICEF support are an important contribution to the enhancement of teaching quality in Early Childhood Education,” said Alexandra Illmer, Deputy Representative, UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During the roundtable, participants exchanged experiences and examples of good practice, discussed challenges in applying the standards, and identified priorities for strengthening monitoring and evaluation to ensure consistency across education administrative units.

Dr. Sci. Aida Terzić, Head of the Sarajevo Regional Unit, APOSO added:

Today’s event represents an important step toward joint reflection and action aimed at improving quality in one of the most significant segments of our education system – early childhood education and care. It is precisely here, in the earliest years of life, that the foundations for lifelong learning, social development, and personality formation are built. Therefore, our responsibility is not only professional but also social – to ensure that these foundations are strong, modern, and aligned with quality standards that promote the development of every child.

I am especially pleased that today we are promoting the compendium of papers featuring examples of good practices in the implementation of quality standards in early childhood education and care. This compendium is not merely a collection of texts – it is a testament to the dedication, expertise, and commitment of educators who invest their energy, knowledge, and creativity every day to provide children with the best possible environment for growth and development. The examples presented confirm that quality is not an abstract concept, but a living practice reflected in relationships, teaching methods, family and community involvement, and the continuous evaluation and improvement of processes.

The roundtable also served as a contribution to SDG Week in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizing the country’s need to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, particularly in the area of education and child development.

By fostering collaboration among policymakers, practitioners, and experts, today’s event reaffirmed that achieving quality early education is not only an educational goal, but also a cornerstone of social inclusion, human capital development, and long-term prosperity in Bosnia and Herzegovina.