Iranian Journal of Public Policy

Iranian Journal of Public Policy

Evaluation of Early Childhood Education Policies Over the Past Century in Iran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
1 Assistant Professor of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd. Iran
2 Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jppolicy.2026.109036
Abstract
This study aimed to identify successful and unsuccessful preschool policies over the past century. Using a qualitative approach, the views of 28 participants were collected through purposive sampling. Inductive content analysis revealed successful policies such as policies relevant to promoting children's health, municipal engagement in establishing safe spaces for children, and inter-institutional collaboration, cultural initiatives by the Intellectual Development Center, contributions from the Welfare Organization, the Children's Book Council, national media productions, the introduction of child-related university programs, and a decentralized curriculum structure. Conversely, the study highlights unsuccessful policies, including the absence of statutory obligations for public investment, incoherence among institutions and scattered policies in the field of ECEC, poor educational quality, neglect of parental education, limited access to public kindergartens in underserved areas, lack of early intervention programs, and the exclusion of children from urban policymaking processes. These findings provide a foundation for shaping the National Organization for Child Education's future educational vision.
Keywords

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