The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has simplified criteria for opening and licensing of kindergartens. Each child will have access to qualitative early childhood education.

"The Government's goal is to expand the network of pre-school institutions. We provide an opportunity for individual entrepreneurs who independently perform educational activities - to be legalized as official institutions. This simplifies the opening of kindergartens, which will expand its network and increase access to pre-school education for children all over the country," Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk said.

At present, there are nearly 15,000 pre-school institutions in Ukraine. This number includes 201 private institutions, 29 state institutions and 14,600 municipal institutions.

Increasing the number of private kindergartens will enable licensing of children's learning centers which are actually full-fledged kindergartens, but cannot be legalized because of bureaucratic processes.

Mandatory requirements such as availability of catering units, laundries and medical staff will be retrofitted. Private kindergartens will be able to attract other companies that are officially entitled to provide the said services.

There will no longer be an essential requirement when kindergarten employees can be only those persons with a teaching background. This will increase employment opportunities for those who decide to change their vocation. However, standard requirements to work with children such as physical and mental health, high moral qualities are still in force.

The new licensing changes will take effect two months later after their publication.