Navigating Early Childhood Education and Care Landscape in Qatar

The study of early childhood development and education gives rise to a convincing account of interrelated factors that influence a child’s journey. There has been a growing recognition of the importance of early childhood education and care in Qatar with the MOHEH's recent endeavor to introduce public pre-kindergarten education for children as young as 3 years old. Many factors contribute to a child's development but the most important is the access and availability of quality ECEC programs and services. This thesis aims to explore the ECEC policy landscape and propose policy recommendations to improve existing practices. The study investigates the role of ECEC by interviewing seven first-grade teachers given the transformational role they play in shaping the formative years of every child. First-grade teachers are also in a position as key implementers of educational policies. Teachers’ perspective offers invaluable insights into the challenges faced at this transitional stage in early childhood education. The thesis adapts the OECD “Education Policy Outlook 2021: Framework for Responsiveness and Resilience in Education Policy” which offers in-depth guidelines on how education policymakers can effectively overcome the multifaceted landscape of education systems. Since there aren't currently state-level mandates specifying pre-primary education as a prerequisite for first-grade enrollment, the findings of this thesis provide actionable insights into addressing these challenges through policy reform at multiple institutional levels.