EU AND UNICEF LAUNCH REHABILITATION OF 9 PRESCHOOLS ACROSS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

UNICEF, in cooperation with relevant authorities and with financial support from the European Union, has launched rehabilitation works on nine preschools across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).The initiative will improve preschool infrastructure in the following municipalities and cities: Lukavac (Puračić), Tuzla, Kotor Varoš, Višegrad, Teslić, Gradiška, Ljubuški, Ljubinje and Mostar. The total value of the renovation works is 2 million BAM, and completion is expected this year.

Improving the safety, functionality and quality of preschool facilities will directly contribute to better learning environments for children, as well as to the expansion of services. In several locations, the renovations will create the necessary conditions for opening new preschool groups and increasing enrolment capacity - an essential step in addressing the current low preschool coverage across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to the latest data, preschool attendance in BiH is only 12.8% for children aged 0 to 2, and 43.4% for children aged 3 to 5, well below the EU average. More than 8,700 children in BiH remain on waiting lists for preschool enrolment, reflecting a strong demand from parents for expanded services.

UNICEF studies show that every BAM invested in early childhood education and care in BiH yields a sevenfold return. Increasing preschool enrolment could generate over 33 billion BAM in economic benefits for the country over the next 30 years. Children who attend preschool perform better in school are more likely to continue their education and are better prepared for the labour market. The impact is even greater for children from vulnerable groups.

Access to preschool is also a key driver of women’s economic empowerment. Expanded preschool coverage could enable more than 2,200 women in BiH to enter the workforce each year, contributing over 500 million BAM to the country’s economy in the next three decades.

UNICEF calls on additional partners to join efforts and invest in early childhood education as a foundational pillar of social and economic development in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This initiative is part of the EU’s and UNICEF’s broader efforts to strengthen early childhood development services and ensure that every child in Bosnia and Herzegovina has the opportunity to grow, learn and thrive in a safe and supportive environment.