28 July 2025

The Arab Resource Collective (ARC) participated in the National Forum on Early Childhood Education, organized by the Center for Educational Research and Development (CERD). The forum brought together several members of parliament, representatives from relevant ministries, educational institutions, universities, unions, parent committees, publishers, and educational associations.

The forum aimed to launch a national participatory discussion on developing early childhood education policies and promoting educational equity, through effective collaboration between the public and private sectors and civil society. This approach seeks to ensure an inclusive learning environment for all children in Lebanon. According to CERD President Dr. Hiam Issa, the forum represented the culmination of continuous efforts by the center over the years to advance early childhood education, based on a deep belief that this foundational stage is a cornerstone of any meaningful educational reform.

Representing ARC was its Vice President, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the Modern University for Business and Science (MUBS), Dr. Hiam Lotfi. In her presentation, she highlighted ARC’s pioneering contributions to the early childhood sector, including the launch of the Early Childhood Program in 1992, and the Qatr Al Nada newsletter in 1997, aimed at fostering communication among early childhood practitioners. She also referenced more than two decades of workshops.

Dr. Lotfi presented a series of advanced studies on early childhood carried out by ARC across six Arab countries, including Lebanon. These studies analyzed the state of childhood between 2015 and 2022, children’s rights in legislation, the impact of the climate crisis on families, and the working conditions of educators.

She also discussed the launch of ARC’s comprehensive program in health, early learning, and education, initially implemented in three official development centers, later expanding to community associations and free kindergartens, reaching over 450 families. Notably, the program is supported by an evaluative study measuring its impact before and after implementation, enhancing the effectiveness of evidence-based models.

Although expansion was halted due to the war, coordination with the Ministries of Education and Health has continued to integrate efforts in kindergartens and mother-and-child centers. Currently, ARC is preparing a new study on integrating Sustainable Development Goals into national childhood-related legislation.

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