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The European project entitled CARE - Enhancing Early Childhood Education and Care in Palestine was written and coordinated by Al-Quds Open University based in Ramallah (Palestine) with the support of Pixel, which is involved in the transnational partnership. The project was funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, Capacity Building in Higher Education. The CARE project aims at ensuring sustainable delivery of early childhood services in Palestine through government’s commitment and strengthened partnership with universities, families and relevant institutions.
Funding Programme
Erasmus+ Programme, Capacity Building in Higher Education
Theme
Inclusion and Diversity
Target group
Higher Education, School Education
Project Reference
618061-EPP-1-2020-1-PS-EPPKA2-CBHE-SP
Date
15-01-2021 | 14-01-2024
Role of Pixel
Partner
Project Details
Project Title
Enhancing Early Childhood Education and Care in Palestine
Context
Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in Palestine faces major challenges: fragmented governance, low-quality services, lack of trained staff and educational materials. Only 32% of in-service nursery teachers are qualified; 28% of children do not attend kindergarten. Existing university curricula are outdated and lack practical components. There is a shortage of professional training programmes and an absence of national standards aligned with international frameworks. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Development have identified ECEC reform as a national priority.
Objectives
The project's main objectives are:
- Strengthen Palestinian HEIs' capacity to deliver high-quality, practice-based ECEC training.
- Develop two professional diploma programmes
- Modernise and harmonise university curricula according to EU standards on High-Quality ECEC Systems.
- Build institutional capacity of ministries and universities for supervision, licensing, and policy development.
- Promote cooperation between EU and Palestinian institutions in ECEC.
Target Group
The project target groups are:
- Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): faculty members, technical staff, and students in education and social sciences.
- Pre-service kindergarten teachers: future educators requiring specialised ECD training.
- In-service nursery teachers: current practitioners needing professional upskilling.
- Public authorities: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Development, and Ministry of Higher Education.
Indirect beneficiaries: children aged 0–6 and their families.
Results
The main project's results are:
- Two updated university curricula and two new diploma programmes developed and piloted.
- 24 trained faculty members and 15 trained technical staff in ECEC and blended learning.
- Creation of ECEC laboratories ("CARE Labs") at partner universities.
- 120 trained teachers (60 nursery, 60 kindergarten).
- Toolkit for Ministries' supervisors.
- Improved ECEC quality, better-qualified workforce, and stronger alignment of Palestinian ECEC with EU and international standards.