Last week marked the official launch of the Quick Start Programme – an accelerated training programme for preschool educators in Ukraine, offering a timely and innovative response to the urgent need for qualified early childhood professionals across the country.
The programme is coordinated by Sesame Workshop in collaboration with the NGO Good Education (Dobra Osvita) and ICDI – International Child Development Initiatives. It is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and four universities, and with financial support from the UBS Optimus Foundation.
ICDI played a key role in the development of the curriculum, drawing on its extensive experience in early childhood development, teacher training, and psychosocial support. The curriculum is aligned with Ukrainian preschool education standards and the new Law on Early Childhood Education and Care (законУкраїни‘Продошкільнуосвіту’) that is in force since January 2025. It also responds directly to systemic challenges, including the need for more practice-oriented training and stronger support for inclusive and trauma-informed pedagogy.
In preparation for the programme rollout, ICDI, Good Education, and Sesame Workshop delivered a comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT) in February 2026, combining an online phase followed by a three-day in-person training. This blended ToT equipped national trainers and facilitators with the pedagogical approach, content knowledge, and practical tools needed to deliver the curriculum effectively. The training emphasised play-based learning, socio-emotional development, trauma-informed practice, and reflective teaching, ensuring consistency and quality across implementation sites.
Designed for individuals holding a bachelor’s degree in any field, the programme offers a three-month accelerated pathway into the preschool profession, combining theory and practice. Participants from regions including Lviv, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Odesa will engage in a blended learning model featuring:
- four core modules grounded in modern, international early childhood approaches, adapted to the realities of war-affected contexts
- weekly online lectures and mentoring support
- hands-on kindergarten practice
- three days of in-person training
The programme reflects a growing recognition that the early childhood workforce is central to the quality of education systems. The Quick Start Programme offers a practical, competency-based, and flexible learning model, while equipping educators to support children facing the psychosocial impacts of conflict.
Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive a micro-qualification certificate, enabling them to enter the preschool workforce and contribute to strengthening early childhood services in Ukraine.
With its focus on rapid capacity-building, inclusion, and quality, the Quick Start Programme represents an important step toward supporting both immediate recovery and the long-term transformation of Ukraine’s preschool education system.
