The following is a press release:

Abu Dhabi – 13 December 2023. Recent findings from the OECD's latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) link successful early childhood education methodologies and practices to higher standards and quality of elementary and tertiary education systems.

According to the triennially released PISA rankings, Estonia has emerged as a standout model for many policymakers, partly due to its exceptional pre-school system, renowned for its quality, where teachers are mandated to hold a bachelor's degree. A striking contrast to the OECD average, nearly 90 percent of Estonian children attend pre-school for a minimum of three years, significantly surpassing the 57 percent average across OECD countries.

In his capacity as one of the awarding committee members of the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning, Dr W. Steven Barnett, Ph.D. Board of Governors Professor, Senior Co-Director National Institute for Early Education Research, Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University, said:

“Estonia builds the foundation for success in primary and secondary education on high-quality early childhood programmes beginning as early as age two that emphasise play, self-directed learning, and the full range of learning and development including the relationships and social-emotional skills and knowledge. These are essential elements for success in the later years as well as language, literacy, mathematics, and science. Other elements include small classes and well-educated teachers. Countries seeking to improve their performance on PISA would do well to learn more about the world's best policies and practices in early childhood.”

The Khalifa International Award for Early learning aims to create a mechanism to discover and recognise research, programmes, methodologies, and advanced teaching practices. It acknowledges distinguished teachers and activates the role of educational centres, institutions, and companies specialised in the field of early childhood education.

Now in its second year, the award scheme designed to recognize global ECE programmes across two categories: "Best Programmes, Curricula, Teaching Methodologies and Practices" and "Best Research & Studies." Each category will see the selection of two winners by a distinguished panel of academics, who will evaluate submissions based on criteria such as innovation, importance, impact, methodological rigor, and feasibility/sustainability.

With a prize pool of US$200,000 that is equally split between four winners, KIAEL aims to recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions that have a profound impact on the early learning field. Individuals, teams, or organisations with a passion for early childhood education are invited to submit their entries by the January 12^th, 2024 deadline.

Submissions for the 2024 edition have come from across the globe and have significantly outpaced the entries from the inaugural edition. Interested parties can access official KIAEL website at https://kiafel.khaward.ae as organisers continue to promote awareness about the importance of impactful early learning research and practices through a series of initiatives designed to reach the global ECE community.

One such initiative took place on December 12, in the form of a joint webinar in collaboration with the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN). The event was attended by over 200 participants from around the world who heard from the four winners of last year’s KIAEL competition. They included South Africa’s Sonja Giese, Executive Director, DataDrive2030 and lead on the Thrive by Five Index;Morocco’s Khaoula Rais, Programme Development Officer of the Zakoura Foundation; Emma Näslund-Hadley, Lead Education Specialist of the Inter-American Development Bank; and Laura Justice, Distinguished Professor ofEducational Psychology.

ECDAN’s Executive Director Elizabeth Lule said: “Quality early childhood education is the building block for healthy development, academic achievement, economic productivity, and responsible citizenship across a child’s lifespan. Estonia's exceptional model, with its emphasis on high-quality preschool education, is a testament to the profound impact of early learning,

She added: “By recognizing outstanding researchers and educators who are making a difference in the early education field, the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning incentivizes innovation and rigorous evidence in early education that help children thrive, learn, and achieve their full potential. It propels us toward a future where quality early education is not just valued but is revered and recognized as the foundation for ifelong learning and for its transformative power.”

-Ends-

About the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning

The Khalifa International Award for Early Learning (KIAEL) exemplifies the keenness of the H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, to encourage research and innovation in the early learning field, ensuring best practice implementation to guarantee the highest early childhood education quality.

The KIAEL intends to promote research and development and enrich the culture of excellence and innovation in early childhood education in the region and worldwide.

It aims to create a mechanism to discover and recognise research, programmes, methodologies, and advanced teaching practices, acknowledge distinguished teachers, and activate the role of educational centres, institutions, and companies specialised in the field of early childhood education.

It also aims to raise awareness and focus attention on serving young children with disabilities in early childhood education. The award will promote the publication of distinguished studies, successful practices, and methodologies to improve early learning policy and practice in this area as well.