Herminie Puts Early Childhood at the Heart of Educational Development

President Patrick Herrminie announced that the United Arab Emirates has secured funding to build a state-of-the-art IECD center.

This facility, unveiled at a meeting at State House with a delegation from the Institute for Early Childhood Development (IECD), a UNESCO Category 2 institute, will serve as a center of excellence for research, training, and innovation in early childhood education.

The project aims to provide young children with an environment conducive to their development and to strengthen the IECD’s role in the region and internationally. The President commended the Institute for its ongoing efforts and pledged to mobilize resources, support policy reforms, and provide a robust institutional framework to amplify the impact of IECD initiatives. “Early childhood development is the foundation of a sustainable and equitable society,” he emphasized.

Dr. Mmantsetsa Marope, Chair of the IECD-UNESCO Governing Board, informed the President of the Institute’s upcoming elevation to Category 2 status within UNESCO. She noted the delays accumulated in recent years and requested renewed support to fully unlock the Institute’s potential in early childhood development at the local, regional, and international levels.

The discussion also addressed governance. The delegation proposed reactivating the high-level multisectoral committee, which includes representatives from the ministries responsible for education and early childhood care, to strengthen policy coordination and synergy between sectors. A revision of the 2022 law on early childhood development was also among the recommendations to align legislation with the Institute’s international status.