UNESCO selects Sharjah as first Arab city to pilot global early childhood assessment tool

UNESCO has selected Sharjah as the first Arab city to take part in the pilot phase of an international self-assessment tool for early childhood systems, recognising the emirate’s sustained efforts to advance early childhood care and education.

According to Emirates News Agency (WAM), a partner of TV BRICS, the decision places Sharjah among a limited group of global pioneers testing UNESCO’s international evaluation framework for early childhood development, reinforcing its status as a regional leader in education and child wellbeing.

The selection builds on Sharjah’s long-standing work in the sector, including its hosting of the Regional Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education in Arab States in June 2023. That event brought together policymakers, educators and international experts to strengthen regional cooperation and align early childhood systems with global standards.

According to UNESCO representatives, Sharjah was nominated in recognition of its integrated approach to early childhood development, grounded in supportive public policies, effective governance, high-quality care and education services, and strong institutional coordination.

Officials in Sharjah noted that the pilot results will help shape targeted development plans to further enhance early childhood care and education in line with international benchmarks, in cooperation with UNESCO.

In a related move, Sharjah will host a high-level closed dialogue session on improving early childhood care and education systems ahead of the Sharjah International Summit on Education Development, scheduled for mid-February 2026. The session is expected to bring together policymakers, experts and representatives from across the Gulf and Arab region, alongside international organisations.

Discussions will focus on preliminary findings from Sharjah’s pilot experience, feedback on the assessment process and the formulation of practical, actionable recommendations aimed at achieving long-term impact in early childhood education systems across the region.