What should modern preschool education look like? What kind of changes does it need — and are we ready for them? These were the key questions addressed at the roundtable organized by the Beit Chana International Humanitarian Pedagogical Institute, Ukraine’s leading Jewish university, which has long become more than just an educational institution — it’s a living hub of thought, practice, and bold ideas.
This time, the meeting was held online — but it remained just as lively and meaningful. Participants included not only scholars and teachers, but also those who manage kindergartens, create educational programs, and work with young children on a daily basis. Among them were Beit Chana students — the very women who will soon stand before children as the new generation of preschool educators.
The discussion focused on the new Ukrainian preschool education curriculum: what has been updated, what has been preserved, and what is still missing. Participants shared experiences, recalled best practices from Ukraine and around the world, and explored the central question: how can we ensure that early childhood education truly meets the needs of today’s children and keeps pace with the modern world — rather than remain a relic of the past?
Beit Chana has hosted similar gatherings before. Its reputation, sincerity, and openness to change continue to attract professionals from across the country. This time, contributors joined from the Berdyansk State Pedagogical University, Ukrainian Institute of Childhood, Institute of Pedagogy of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, Donbas State Pedagogical University, Dnipro Academy of Continuing Education, Dragomanov Ukrainian State University, and the City Center for Professional Development “Educational Trajectory.”
This was more than just a roundtable. It was a meeting of passionate minds — people who truly care about how our children grow and who they become.
