In Iran, Early Childhood Education (ECE) targets children aged 4 to 6, primarily facilitated through kindergartens. The curriculum emphasizes cognitive, social, and emotional development to prepare children for formal schooling. Despite the recognized importance of ECE, enrollment rates remain low, with approximately 2% of children under six receiving formal preschool education, mainly those with working mothers. This limited participation is partly due to ECE not being mandatory and the predominance of private sector provision, which imposes fees that many families cannot afford. The Ministry of Education oversees these programs; however, there is a lack of standardized curricula and an urgent need for specialized training for educators. Efforts to introduce a compulsory pre-primary year were initiated in 1984 but were reversed in 1989 due to political and economic challenges. Persistent issues such as limited coverage, inadequate teacher training, and infrastructural constraints highlight the need for comprehensive policy development and increased investment in the ECE sector.