Unpacking Barriers and Enablers to Quality Early Childhood Education and Care in Lebanon: A Multi-level Perspective

Bassaj Hamadi, Rana, Haddad Moussa, Nada, Jack, Christine, Floccia, Caroline, Kouba Hreich, Edith, Messarra Moitel, Camille, Trebacz, Anastasia, Khattab, Ghada and McKean, Cristina (2026) Unpacking Barriers and Enablers to Quality Early Childhood Education and Care in Lebanon: A Multi-level Perspective. Gulf Education and Social Policy Review, 7 (1). pp. 54-85.

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Abstract

This article investigates the barriers and enablers to quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Lebanon’s complex and multilingual context. In this qualitative study, 56 stakeholders—ministry representatives, NGOs, educators, parents, and healthcare professionals—were interviewed. The study reveals a fragmented governance structure and inequitable funding that impact the quality and equitable access to ECEC provision. Despite the value placed on ECEC and OL, systemic weaknesses, including inadequate staff compensation and donor-driven priorities, constrain progress. Findings also highlight grassroots resilience, with committed educators and NGOs adapting to meet local needs. Using Kagan’s system-level framework and Torii et al.’s (2017) quality domains as a multilevel systems lens, this study offers practical policy recommendations to support coordinated, equitable ECEC in Lebanon.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Early Childhood Education and Care, Lebanon Education Policy, System-Level Reform, Multilingual Education, Oral Language Development
Depositing User:	Anastasia Trebacz
URI:	https://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/20262