Sharjah announced changes to how early education works in the emirate. The government is combining nurseries and kindergartens into single buildings. Instead of kids moving between schools, they stay in one place from nursery through kindergarten. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi approved this plan.
The basic idea is straightforward. Nursery and kindergarten classes exist in the same facility. Same teachers. Same building. Kids don’t have to switch schools when they move from nursery to kindergarten. That’s the main change happening right now.
Currently Sharjah runs forty nurseries. The expansion adds seven more, bringing the total to forty-seven. These new facilities house both nursery and kindergarten. The government already tested this model at four locations. Al Suyoh, Al Rahmaniyah, Al Lu’lu’iyah, and Kalba all have combined programs running. About two hundred kids have already moved from nursery to kindergarten at these schools without changing buildings.
The government is doing this in three separate waves. They’re not opening everything at once. August 2026 is when the first group starts. That’s twenty-four hundred and two kids entering the system. January 2027 brings the second wave with three hundred and thirty-two more children. April 2027 adds the final group of two hundred and seventy kids. Total enrollment across all three phases comes to around three thousand kids.
Why split it into three parts? Building takes time. Training staff takes time. You can’t just open seven new schools overnight. The phased approach lets them build properly, train teachers, and make sure everything is ready before kids show up.
While they’re building the new combined centres, they’re also adding kindergarten classrooms to existing nurseries. If a child finishes nursery at a school that doesn’t have kindergarten yet, they can move to a regular government school temporarily. It’s not ideal but it works while construction happens.
Kids benefit from staying in one place. They know their teachers. They know the building. They know the other kids. When kindergarten starts, they’re not starting over in a completely new environment. That matters for how kids learn and develop.
Parents benefit from having one school to deal with. One drop-off location. One pick-up time. One set of teachers to communicate with. That’s simpler than juggling two different schools with different schedules.
Teachers get to know their students over a longer period. They see how a child develops over two or three years. They understand what works for each kid. That knowledge carries into kindergarten. Teachers can teach to what they actually know about each student.
The eighteen percent increase in nursery enrollment shows that more parents want early education for their kids. They see the value. Sharjah is responding by expanding capacity to meet that demand.
It also reflects the broader direction of the UAE’s future ready education system, where governments are investing in modern learning environments that support children from their earliest years.
This fits into a bigger picture of how Sharjah is developing. The government is investing in infrastructure that serves residents. You see this in other projects too. The expansion of these centres follows the same long term planning behind new schools opening across Dubai and Sharjah, giving families better access to quality education as communities continue to grow.
The Ruler is personally following this project. That tells you something about how important it is. Other major projects are happening at the same time. Al Mansour Fort in Khorfakkan is opening soon. The Al Hosoun project in Al Madam is upgrading infrastructure. The Kalba lake project is being redesigned. These aren’t random things. They’re part of a coordinated plan.
The four pilot schools show this model works. Two hundred kids have already gone through the transition. Teachers say it’s smooth. Parents say it’s less stressful. The kids are fine. If you have a child in a Sharjah nursery, check what’s happening at your school. Is it one of the pilot schools? Is it getting a kindergarten section? Is it one of the new combined centres? This matters for your kid’s future.
The eighteen percent increase in enrollment means popular schools will have waiting lists. If you’re thinking about putting your kid in a government nursery, get on the list sooner rather than later. If your child’s nursery doesn’t have kindergarten yet, they can attend a government school temporarily. It’s not perfect but it’s an option while the new facilities are being built.
How does the combined centre model work?
Kids stay in the same school from nursery through kindergarten. Same teachers. Same building. They don’t have to switch schools.
When does this start?
Three different times. August 2026 first. January 2027 second. April 2027 third. Contact your local education office for specific enrollment dates.
How many kids total?
Around three thousand kids across all three phases. Sharjah is going from forty nurseries to forty-seven.
Are there examples of this working already?
Yes. Four schools are running this model now. Two hundred kids have gone through the transition. It’s working well.
What if my nursery doesn’t have kindergarten yet?
They’re adding kindergarten classes to existing nurseries. While that happens, kids can go to government schools. It’s temporary.
Why is enrollment going up by eighteen percent?
More parents want early education for their kids. They see the benefits. Sharjah is expanding to meet that demand.
Is this happening in other emirates?
Just Sharjah right now. Other emirates have their own approaches to early education.
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