The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the UNESCO Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education (RCQE), inaugurated, on June 8, 2026 at ALECSO headquarters in Tunis, the Arab Forum on Quality and Excellence in Early Childhood Institutions, under the theme “Quality Childhood… Sustainable Future.” The Forum brought together relevant experts and specialists, along with representatives from Arab education ministries.

In his opening remarks,  H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, emphasized that early childhood has become a strategic priority closely linked to the future of societies and to their ability to build human capital, achieve sustainable development, and promote intellectual, cultural, and societal security.   He noted that the quality of early childhood institutions is now a key indicator of national progress and a fundamental pillar for building knowledge-based, innovation-driven, and sustainable societies. ALECSO, he added, has given special attention to this vital sector, by developing Arab initiatives and programs aimed at supporting educational policies and improving the quality of early childhood education.

For his part, H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Al-Medaires, Director-General of RCQE, underscored the importance of joint Arab action to enhance the quality and sustainability of education amid rapid global transformations in knowledge and technology. He stressed that caring for early childhood and applying quality standards in its institutions should become an established culture and practice, given that the quality of education in later stages is closely linked to the quality of care and learning in the early years of a child’s life.

Dr. Al-Medaires also reviewed the Center’s strategic project on systems for evaluating the quality of early childhood education in Arab countries. The project aims to establish a unified Arab framework of standards to support the development of early childhood institutions and improve their performance, thereby strengthening the readiness of educational systems to keep pace with future changes.

The two-day forum featured scientific panels, specialized discussions, and presentations of leading Arab experiences and best practices in enhancing the quality of early childhood institutions. It offered a platform for the exchange of expertise and the development of shared visions to advance this vital sector across the Arab world.