Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University hosted the First International Conference on “Early Childhood Education and Care.” The conference aimed to foster academic dialogue on the quality, accessibility, and inclusiveness of early childhood education and care while promoting the exchange of knowledge and best practices informed by both national and international experience.

The conference was officially opened by several distinguished guests, including Davit Gabaidze, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara; Ghassan Khalil, United Nations Resident Representative in Georgia; Members of Parliament Giorgi Amilakhvari and Eliso Bolkvadze; Professor Merab Khalvashi, Rector of Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University; and Maia Khajishvili, Minister of Education, Culture, and Sports of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. In their opening remarks, the speakers emphasized the strategic importance of strengthening early childhood education and care as a foundation for sustainable educational and social development.

The two-day conference brought together representatives of the Parliament of Georgia, central and local government authorities, the academic community, international organizations, civil society organizations, and preschool education institutions. The event sought to promote the professional development of specialists working in the field while raising public and governmental awareness of the fundamental importance of early childhood education.

A total of 150 participants from Georgia and abroad presented 95 research papers and took part in thematic panel discussions addressing key issues related to the governance, financing, accessibility, quality assurance, and inclusiveness of early childhood education and care.

The conference sessions provided a platform for scholarly discussion and featured presentations by national and international experts on a broad range of topics, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood education; innovative and alternative pedagogical approaches; the role of play in children’s learning and development; children’s rights within the context of early childhood education; professional competencies; the education and continuing professional development of early childhood educators; parental engagement and the promotion of positive parenting; inclusive educational practices and early intervention; as well as regulatory frameworks, quality standards, and internationally recognized best practices.

Early childhood education is of critical importance for every child and serves as the foundation for lifelong learning, development, and well-being. Delays or deficiencies in providing high-quality early childhood education can have long-lasting adverse consequences, limiting children’s opportunities to realize their full developmental and educational potential. Recognizing its significance, UNICEF has supported the Government and Parliament of Georgia in the development and implementation of the Law on Early and Preschool Education and Care. This legislation introduces substantial reforms aimed at improving the quality of early childhood education and ensuring equitable access to early learning opportunities throughout Georgia.