Preschool Teachers’ Opinions about Non-Stop Education in Kindergartens

Authors : Dilek Nal

Pages : 87-95

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Publication Date : 2020-07-01

Article Type : Research

Abstract :This study aims to determine opinions of preschool teachers working in educational institutions affiliated to the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) in Turkey about non-stop education process. The study was conducted with 12 preschool teachers working in Kartepe and Körfez districts of Kocaeli province in Turkey. Participants of this qualitative study were selected using convenience sampling method. In the study, four questions were asked to the teachers to determine problems and difficulties they experienced in daily 300-minute non-stop education in kindergartens and effects of this practice on their students. In addition, teachers’ suggestions for alternative practices were received. The teachers’ opinions were collected using a semi-structured interview form and analyzed through the descriptive analysis method. The study found that daily 300-minutes non-stop education in kindergartens has negative effects on both teachers and students. The teachers stated that they did not meet their physiological needs, their efficiency decreased, and they were badly affected due to the current practice. The students were observed that they were bored and distracted, and they displayed behavioral problems based on the duration of this education. According to the participants, this practice is incompatible with human rights. They also had the opinion that they were treated differently from teachers in other branches and faced the problem of salary injustice. Assigning an assistant in nursery classes, allowing preschool teachers to have break times, and branch teachers’ inclusion in activities of nursey classes are suggested.
Keywords : Preschool education, preschool teacher, , teacher opinions