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UNESCO has selected the Emirate of Sharjah to participate in the pilot implementation of the Early Childhood Care and Education – Progress Assessment and Transformation Tool (ECCE-PATT). This selection strengthens Sharjah’s position as a regional centre for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
The selection recognises Sharjah’s work to advance early childhood systems through policy, governance and education and care services.
This milestone follows Sharjah’s role in early childhood development, particularly its hosting of the Regional Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education in the Arab States in June 2023. The conference was held under the patronage of the Sharjah Family and Community Council, in collaboration with UNESCO’s Multisectoral Regional Office for the Arab States, and in coordination with the Sharjah Private Education Authority, the Sharjah Education Academy and the Sharjah Child Friendly Office.
UNESCO’s nomination of Sharjah for this pilot phase reflects international recognition of the Emirate’s approach to early childhood development, based on policies, governance, quality care and education provision, and institutional coordination among stakeholders.
The pilot aims to develop a self-assessment profile of the early childhood sector in Sharjah. This includes documenting achievements and practices, consolidating evidence, identifying system gaps and highlighting Sharjah’s experience as a regional model in early childhood care and education.
Her Excellency Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Private Education Authority and President of Sharjah Education Academy, stated:
“UNESCO’s selection of the Emirate of Sharjah to pilot this assessment tool aligns with our ongoing efforts to realise the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Across all levels, we remain committed to advancing excellence in early childhood systems. The outcomes of this pilot assessment will support the development of targeted improvement plans that enhance the quality of care and education provided to our children in accordance with the highest international standards, in close collaboration with UNESCO.”
Dr. Borhene Chakroun, Director of the Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems at UNESCO, stated:
“Lifelong learning begins in the earliest years. By piloting the UNESCO ECCE-PATT, Sharjah is generating the evidence needed to drive system-wide reforms in early childhood care and education, strengthening school readiness, foundational learning, and lifelong opportunity. This initiative shows Sharjah’s leadership in placing early childhood at the heart of education transformation.”
High-Level Closed Dialogue Session
The Sharjah Private Education Authority and the Sharjah Education Academy, in partnership with UNESCO, will convene a high-level closed policy dialogue session on strengthening Early Childhood Care and Education systems. The session takes place during the Pre-Conference Day of the Sharjah International Summit on Improvement in Education, held from 14 to 15 February 2026 at the Sharjah Education Academy campus in University City.
The session will bring together senior policymakers, experts and decision-makers from the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf region and the wider Arab world, alongside representatives from academic institutions and international organisations specialising in early childhood development. The gathering aims to foster regional dialogue, knowledge exchange and shared perspectives on system reform, curriculum development and policy alignment.
The dialogue will focus on initial feedback and preliminary findings from Sharjah’s pilot implementation of the UNESCO-endorsed ECCE-PATT tool, and on developing practical recommendations based on the tool’s outcomes.
These partnerships confirm Sharjah’s approach that building the future begins in early childhood, with the child positioned at the centre of its development vision. Sharjah continues to strengthen integrated education systems that place children’s needs at the heart of policy and practice, creating environments for growth and learning, and preparing future generations to contribute to the development of society.
