Dr. Abdal Khaliq Essa, Dean of the Faculty, opened the ceremony by welcoming Ministry representatives, kindergarten teachers, the University’s training team, and the Director of the Grants and Projects Center. He affirmed the University’s commitment to developing Palestinian educators, especially in early childhood education, stressing the need to nurture children's emotional and social skills and aiming to qualify teachers for a specialized professional diploma.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry, Dr. Wafaa Ashour emphasized the crucial role of early childhood education in Palestine and the Ministry’s efforts to sustain professional development for preschool educators despite limited resources. She explained the partnership with local universities to launch the specialized diploma program, outlining its goals, outcomes, and future plans. Project Director Dr. Saida Affouneh congratulated the teachers selected for the third cohort, highlighting the training’s foundation in modern teaching methods and its focus on children’s holistic development. She also encouraged participants to share experiences and build a culture of collaborative learning.

Meanwhile, Dr. Saed Khayyat, Director of the Grants and Projects Unit, stressed that the project supports the University’s strategy to advance early childhood education in Palestine. He also highlighted the importance of institutionalizing the project and ensuring its integration with other university programs and broader national development initiatives.

It is worth noting that the third phase of the project involves training 55 educators from the directorates of education in Nablus, South Nablus, and Salfit, through a specialized program hosted bry An-Najah University.