Sharjah’s nurseries: Expanding early childhood education

Three admission phases

This is part of a comprehensive expansion plan that includes the admission of children in three phases, starting next September, with a total of 2,546 children distributed across 32 government nurseries across the Emirate of Sharjah.

The first phase will begin in September 2025, with 2,176 existing and new children admitted to various Sharjah government nurseries. The second phase will follow in October, welcoming all registered children in the cities of Khorfakkan, Kalba, Dibba Al Hisn, and the Central Region who were not offered admission in the first phase. This coincides with the receipt of the 252-child Luluyah Nursery in Khorfakkan and the 178-child Al Saf Nursery in Kalba, both of which were completed by the Sharjah Department of Public Works.

The third phase will begin in December 2025 and will include the admission of 239 registered children in Sharjah who were not included in the previous admission phases.

Education and care at the forefront

This step is in line with the gradual expansion policy, which ensures a smooth integration and assimilation process, taking into account operational and educational aspects at each admission stage. This is in line with SEA’s vision to build an integrated educational system starting from the child's early years and placing the quality of education and care at the forefront of its priorities.

Transparent and fair criteria

The Academy approved admissions this year according to specific criteria approved to ensure transparency and fairness. These criteria are part of the Academy's commitment to prioritising Sharjah's children and enabling them to benefit from government nurseries. These requirements also aim to ensure that targeted groups truly benefit and achieve a balanced distribution of seats to serve the emirate's various regions.

Safe and comprehensive educational environment for Sharjah children

Her Excellency Dr Muhadditha Al Hashemi, Chairperson of SEA, said that "the academy is pleased to announce the admission of 2,546 children to Sharjah's government nurseries for the new academic year. This is thanks to the direct support of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his continuous monitoring of the early childhood system, as well as His Highness's commitment to providing a safe and comprehensive educational environment for the Emirate's children. We consider this achievement the fruit of close cooperation between various working teams and government entities, and we are committed to living up to the trust of parents who eagerly await this opportunity for their children."

Expanding the scope of nurseries

Al Hashimi added that the Sharjah Education Academy is working as a team, in partnership with relevant government entities, to expand the scope of nurseries and provide the best possible care and early learning programmes. In the next phase SEA will continue to open new nurseries that meet the aspirations of the community and the needs of families across the Emirate.

Al Hashimi noted that the academy's work teams are continuing logistical and educational preparations to welcome new children, including equipping facilities, updating curricula, and training nursery staff according to the highest standards, in line with Sharjah's educational vision.

Growing demand for government nurseries

For her part, Khawla Al Hosani, Deputy Director of Sharjah Education Academy, confirmed that admissions for the 2025-2026 academic year were in response to the growing demand for government nurseries and a result of understanding the needs of families in the Emirate of Sharjah.

Al Hosani said that SEA centre the educational process around the child, as they are its core and ultimate goal. The academy is keen to provide an educational environment that promotes exploration and learning through play, and takes into account individual differences in the early stages of development.

Quality education

Al Hosani added that SEA is confident that the current expansion, along with the accompanying training and qualification efforts for the educational staff, will contribute to establishing the foundations of quality education from the early years, enhancing children's opportunities for a better future as a result of providing the best educational environments and optimal care for our children, according to the highest standards in terms of capacity, quality of buildings, facilities, and services.

Increasing capacity and achieving geographical balance

It is worth noting that the number of government nurseries in the Emirate of Sharjah will reach 35 with the completion of the new nurseries, as part of a comprehensive vision aimed at the planned expansion of early childhood services and the provision of safe and comprehensive educational environments across the emirate.

In cooperation with relevant authorities, SEA continues to implement development projects that contribute to increasing capacity and achieving geographical balance in the distribution of nurseries.

The Academy also seeks to empower educational staff and develop infrastructure in a sustainable manner, contributing to the preparation of a generation equipped with basic skills and knowledge from the early stages of life.