Abstract

This study explores an integrated approach for sustainable urban early childhood education and development within the context of urban planning and preschool infrastructure in rapidly urbanizing areas. It focuses on a case study conducted in both private and public preschools in Addis Ababa. The study adopts a qualitative case study design, utilizing data from secondary sources such as documents related to urban planning and design policies, preschool education policies, standards for early childhood care and education, policy implementation reports, academic literature, and theories on child education. The primary objective is to identify policy, institutional, and practice gaps in the assessment of urban design, planning, preschool education infrastructure, and early childhood care and education policies. The data collection instrument employed is document review, and the data analysis technique is a discourse thematic data analysis approach.

Key words: Early childhood care and education, urban planning and design, preschool infrastructure, rapid urbanization, preschool education.