The “Early Childhood on a Changing World: Visions and Experiences” conference concluded successfully after two days of engaging discussions and presentations. The conference, held at the Faculty of Education at the Islamic University and Hebron University, took place on May 23–24, 2023, and welcomed 57 researchers from the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Europe, and the United States of America. The event also featured a panel discussion with esteemed experts in the field of early childhood education from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. This conference marked the culmination of the “Development of Early Childhood Education” project, a collaboration between the Islamic University, Hebron University, and the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), generously funded by the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Improvement in Higher Education.
Throughout the conference, participants put forward several key recommendations to further enhance early childhood education. One major emphasis was on the importance of providing appropriate academic qualifications for professionals working in early childhood institutions. To accomplish this, participants stressed the need for educational training at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels for faculty members, ensuring a higher level of effectiveness in the educational process during this critical stage. Additionally, training courses for child caregivers were deemed crucial, focusing on equipping them with the necessary skills to handle psychological pressures, develop leadership abilities, and enhance children’s social skills. Modern teaching methods that concentrate on fostering life skills and promoting positive behaviors in children were also highlighted as essential for kindergartens.
Infrastructure and facilities were another key area of discussion at the conference. Participants stressed the significance of paying attention to the buildings, educational facilities, and equipment of kindergartens, as these elements greatly impact the educational process and positively influence children. Regular maintenance and updates to meet international standards and specifications were recommended, along with modern scientific and technological resources. Additionally, the participants called for the inclusion of the kindergarten stage in the governmental job scale to ensure unified salaries and safeguard the rights of professional caregivers. Strengthening educational supervision roles through increased numbers of supervisors in kindergartens was advocated to monitor caregiver work and ensure adherence to kindergarten guidelines.
Psychosocial support for children, particularly those in conflict and marginalized areas, was a pressing concern addressed during the conference. Attendees urged the integration of children with disabilities and learning difficulties, supporting related research in the field, and enhancing caregivers’ abilities to detect and address learning difficulties in reading and writing through early intervention strategies.
The adoption and implementation of the Montessori method in active learning strategies and methods used in kindergartens received significant attention. Participants recommended organizing training programs for directors and caregivers and providing the necessary tools, resources, and educational materials to effectively implement the Montessori approach. The importance of outdoor learning and utilizing the local environment to instill values and skills through practical experiences was also underscored. Furthermore, the participants highlighted the need to cultivate a culture of parental involvement and raise awareness among parents regarding the areas in which they can contribute, as their engagement plays a vital role in the development of kindergarten programs and activities.
Unifying the systematic philosophy of kindergartens and adopting a national curriculum under the auspices of the Ministry of Education emerged as another critical recommendation. This national curriculum aims to provide a shared educational methodology that integrates the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare children for the challenges of the 21st century. Additionally, unifying policies related to assessment and parent involvement and establishing strong connections between the Ministry of Education, civil society institutions, higher education institutions, and specialized organizations in early childhood education were stressed. This collaborative effort seeks to provide comprehensive support to kindergarten centers, addressing their diverse needs through an integrated system.
Experts in the field of early childhood education have emphasized the significance of drawing upon successful global experiences and local and international success stories to enhance the development of early childhood education. They also underscored the importance of fostering relationships and international exchanges between local and global academic institutions in this domain. To further this goal, it has been recommended to establish research teams consisting of university professors and professionals specializing in early childhood education. These teams would conduct comprehensive field research to gain insights into the current state of early childhood education in Palestine and explore strategies to enhance its growth.
