In 2001,the Egyptian government announced its intention to build on progress toward improved child health, and education by increasing enrollment rates in kindergarten (KG) programs, and improving early childhood education. The repot examines the status of KG enrollment, stipulating fifty percent is in private schools, and, most programs in the private sector are developed, and managed by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and religious schools. Notwithstanding, poor children still face many barriers to KG enrollment: there is a strong correlation between gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, and gross enrollment in KG in Egypt - the poorest governorates in Upper, and Lower Egypt have the lowest KG enrollment rates, and, there are disparities between KG enrollment rates for girls, and boys. Key priorities for KG expansion suggest the adoption of comprehensive approaches to pre-service, and in-service training
development of an official KG curriculum
integrated health and nutrition services to improve ability to learn
and, adoption of a participatory approach to quality improvement. Strategies to expand KG should focus on strengthening coordination, and management of early childhood education (ECE), to improve access to public KG, but most importantly, provide support for teacher training through supervision, and mentoring programs. Restrictions to private sector participation in public KG expansion should be revised within a regulatory framework, while incentives should be created for improved access to disadvantaged children.