Early childhood development (ECD) in the West Bank and Gaza is compromised by serious deficiencies in the quality of and access to programmes and services – among which are low enrollment, inadequate facilities, inexperienced teachers, reliance on inappropriate rote learning methods and limited parental involvement or understanding among families of the importance of good ECD practices. In addition to the poor quality of available preschool programs, rising poverty and barriers to mobility caused by the separation wall have led, in recent years, to a decline in pre-primary enrollment rates.