UNESCO and Morocco's FMPS Boost Maghreb Early Childhood Education Through Self-Assessment Tool

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in collaboration with the Moroccan Foundation for Early Childhood Education (FMPS), hosted a significant regional workshop in Rabat from November 24 to 27, 2025. This pivotal event brought together essential institutional representatives from Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Tunisia. The primary objective was to sustainably strengthen the capacity of these five nations in transforming early childhood education and elevating the overall quality of preschool systems across the Maghreb region.

Central to the methodology being deployed is the application of the EPPE-PATT tool, a mechanism developed by UNESCO. This specific instrument is designed for self-assessment, allowing participating countries to critically evaluate crucial facets of their early childhood sectors. Key areas under scrutiny include governance structures, accessibility of services, pedagogical quality standards, and the adequacy of human resources. The workshop in Rabat served as a vital forum for constructive dialogue, facilitating the exchange of valuable experiences among government officials, civil society stakeholders, and subject matter experts.

These concerted efforts are directly aimed at supporting the provisions outlined in the Tashkent Declaration and honoring the commitments established during the 2022 World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education. By focusing on these benchmarks, the initiative seeks to accelerate progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4.2. The EPPE-PATT tool will function as a diagnostic instrument, mapping the current state of the early childhood sector within the five participating states. The resulting collaborative analysis will then inform and shape future governmental policies across the region.

This strategic intervention is particularly timely given UNESCO's sobering statistics: globally, one in four children under the age of five—equating to 33 million out of 134 million—has never had access to any form of preschool education. Addressing this gap is paramount for regional development.

FMPS, serving as UNESCO's official partner, has recently underscored its proactive stance on the international stage. From October 30 to November 13, 2025, FMPS participated in the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Ms. Nisrine Ibn Abdeljalil, Director General of FMPS, presented Morocco's advancements in early childhood education during the conference proceedings. Furthermore, hosting the Rabat workshop aligns perfectly with FMPS's core national priority for 2025: achieving universal coverage of preschool education throughout Morocco.

The Foundation’s impactful work did not go unnoticed in 2025; FMPS was honored with the Khalifa Award in the Early Childhood category for its exemplary programs and practices. This recognition validates its integrated model for delivering high-quality and equitable early childhood education. The participation of FMPS in the Samarkand General Conference—a significant meeting held outside of Paris for the first time in 40 years—highlights Uzbekistan's growing influence in global educational discourse. Consequently, the joint actions undertaken by UNESCO and FMPS in the Maghreb, bolstered by international accolades, are set to act as a powerful catalyst for measurable improvements in the development outcomes for young children across North Africa.