Egypt, UNICEF launch 1st intellectual education curriculum for kindergarten

In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry said the programme, prepared by experts from the Central Administration of General Education and the General Administration of Special Education, marks a major step in inclusive education and aims to help young children develop essential life skills from their earliest years.

The curriculum focuses on children’s overall development, including intellectual, language, social, motor, and emotional growth.

It also integrates children with special needs through practical, interactive activities tailored to individual differences.

The programme seeks to promote independence by building daily living skills and providing kindergarten teachers with modern tools and innovative teaching methods.

It also encourages positive values such as respect, cooperation, and a sense of belonging, laying the foundation for responsible citizenship.

By providing a framework for inclusive education, the initiative opens new opportunities for children with disabilities and prepares them to play an active role in their communities.

The ministry stated that the programme reflects the state’s commitment to education reform and ensuring equal learning opportunities for all children.

According to the statement, this initiative is part of Egypt’s broader efforts to support children with disabilities.

Recent measures include exempting students with special needs from tuition fees and strengthening the Egyptian International Leadership Centre for the Empowerment of People with Disabilities.

UNICEF has long supported Egypt’s education reform agenda, especially through the Education 2.0 initiative launched in 2018, which seeks to transform the national curriculum into a skills-based, inclusive, and digital system by 2030.

The new kindergarten curriculum is an extension of this vision. UNICEF has also contributed to the development of special education frameworks, materials for children with sensory disabilities, and teacher training programs for inclusive classrooms.

These efforts build on a 2023 UNICEF-supported pilot programme, “Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Kindergarten,” which introduced resource rooms, teacher training, and parent awareness campaigns in public schools in Assiut, Sohag, and Beheira governorates, demonstrating the model’s success.