Iraq’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) system faces significant challenges due to historical conflicts and infrastructural limitations. While the official teacher-to-child ratio is 1:30, it often reaches 1:40 in practice, severely impacting the quality of education. Approximately 83% of pre-primary age children are not enrolled in any educational program, indicating substantial exclusion from early education. Efforts are ongoing to improve access and quality, with a focus on rebuilding facilities and training educators. The Ahlan Simsim program, launched in collaboration with international organizations, aims to provide social-emotional learning and play-based education to children aged 3 to 8. This initiative addresses the critical need for quality ECE services by promoting resilience, creativity, and social interaction among young learners. However, infrastructural deficits and inconsistent funding continue to hinder progress.