Spending Better on Ukraine’s Youngest Learners : A Public Expenditure and Institutional Review of Early Childhood and Preschool Education

Overview & Synopsis

Early Childhood and Preschool Education (ECPE) plays an important role in Ukraine’s human capital, social, and economic development. At the request of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MoES), the World Bank undertook this Public Expenditure and Institutional Review (PEIR) to inform implementation of the new Preschool Law and support the ongoing process of enhancing the ECPE network. The PEIR examines whether public resources are being used adequately, equitably, and efficiently to support access to quality ECPE services and identifies options for reforms that are responsive to Ukraine’s current fiscal and demographic realities. The findings of this PEIR provide a practical roadmap for implementing the 2024 Preschool Law and maximizing the impact of ongoing expenditures, including under the World Bank–supported Lifting Education Access and Resilience in Times of Need (LEARN) project.