August 19, 2026. A new stage of digitalization of the preschool education system has come into force in Kyiv. The functionality of the electronic system for enrolling children in municipal kindergartens has been updated on the Kyiv Services Portal. The innovation is aimed at increasing the transparency of the process and reducing social tension among parents who have been waiting for years to enroll their children in state institutions.

From a "black box" to an open registry

The main innovation, launched in the "Registries" section, allows parents to see not only their abstract place in the general queue but also the real situation regarding places in specific age groups. Previously, the system provided only a number in the list, which often misled parents: they could not assess prospects because groups are formed strictly by age. Now, the user can see the number of applications submitted, formed groups, and the exact number of free places in the nursery, junior, middle, or senior group.

This solution closes the information vacuum that has existed for years. Now parents can track queue dynamics in real time, see how priorities related to the confirmation of benefits change, and plan their actions more effectively.

Preparation for the new academic year: English language and staff

In anticipation of the start of the 2026/2027 academic year, which begins in September, Kyiv's education system is adapting to new requirements. As previously reported, starting in September 2026, English will become a mandatory subject for children aged 5–6. According to current data, more than 75% of kindergartens in the city are already ready to implement the new program. For institutions experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers, a hybrid format is provided: classes can be conducted online.

Financial prospects for teachers

Alongside digitalization and program updates, the issue of material incentives for employees is being addressed. The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU) confirmed the preparation of a resolution to increase the salaries of preschool education teachers by 20% from January 2027. Official representatives of the department admit that even such an increase in payments is insufficient for full stabilization of the situation in the education labor market, but this is the first step towards a systemic solution to the problem.

Contradictory data

Despite positive changes in the digital service, experts and parents note a discrepancy between expectations and reality. On the one hand, the authorities position the portal update as a solution to the problem of "opacity." On the other hand, the very fact of the appearance of detailed information about free places may provoke a surge in demand for specific kindergartens, which will lead to a sharp increase in the number of applications and, consequently, an increase in queues at popular institutions. Furthermore, the question of increasing teachers' salaries by 20% is controversial: trade unions consider this amount insufficient to cover inflation, while budget officials fear that funding may be frozen until the final resolution is approved.