Developing a comprehensive framework for the monitoring and evaluation of early childhood education and care in the Czech Republic

The aim of this 2-year project (September 2023-July 2025) is to support the Czech authorities in developing a comprehensive and coherent system to evaluate and monitor the quality of early childhood education and care for children aged 0-6 years. The project is implemented by UNICEF in co-operation with the European Commission.

Context

In the Czech Republic, participation in early childhood education and care (ECEC) is very low, and while there are plans to expand services for the youngest children (0-3) with the support of the Resilience and Recovery Fund (RRF) and the European Social Fund (ESF+), there is currently no effective system for the monitoring & evaluation of these services that would ensure the required quality.

Support measures

The project will support the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in developing a monitoring and evaluation system for the quality of early childhood education and care for the youngest children, aged 0-3 years, through so called children’s groups.

In close co-operation with the Ministry of Education, responsible of the kindergarten system, mostly for 3–6-year-olds, recommendations will be made for an integrated system of monitoring and evaluation that would support quality of services across the entire age group from birth to primary education. The projet will also produce guidance to municipalities to increase their capacity to provide quality ECEC services.

Expected results

The envisaged project outcomes will contribute to better investments in the expansion of the ECEC sector by guiding investments in the quality of new settings and their services and by identifying areas of greatest need for additional capacities.

By jointly developing a comprehensive framework for the monitoring and evaluation of all ECEC services the two Ministries involved are planning to create the basis for a more coherent system with continuous support of children and their families.

Useful links

https://reform-support.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-09/TSI%20CZ_2-pager_EN.pdf

More about the project

You can read the final report here: