Preschoolers and kindergarteners in rural Uzbekistan hop on a yellow school bus for three hours every day to play with toys, read books with teachers, and make friends with classmates. Buses travel through the remote mountains and stop in different villages each day to reach as many children as possible. The Uzbekistan government came up with the unique school system after realizing that only one in four children went to early childhood education in the country. Since the school-on-wheels program launched, enrollment has jumped from 27% to 67%. The buses are eco-friendly, run on solar energy, and can function off-grid for areas that have no electricity or water. Though these classrooms may look untraditional, the sustainable initiative allows kids in all areas of Uzbekistan to have access to vital early childhood education.
Image via Ministry of Preschool Education of Uzbekistan
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