This study intends to analyze the current status and problems of public kindergartens in Korea. The goal is to determine the types of kindergartens in Korea and develop management models for individual types of public kindergartens. A view of literat...
This study intends to analyze the current status and problems of public kindergartens in Korea. The goal is to determine the types of kindergartens in Korea and develop management models for individual types of public kindergartens. A view of literature revealed the developmental process of public kindergartens in Korea and that of public kindergartens in other countries, where preschool education is considered part of public education. To diagnose the current status and problems of public kindergartens in Korea, 700 public kindergartens were surveyed by means of questionnaires. Researchers also made visits to public kindergartens to interview teaching staff and school inspectors and discuss the general educational conditions and management problems in public kindergartens. The results are as follows. 1. The educational environment(e.g.,classroom,toilet,playground)is so poor that normal classroom management is difficult. 2. A mixed-age-group class makes it difficult to carry out effective curriculum management. The lack of knowledge about kindergarten education on the part of the primary school principal, vice principal often creates communication problems among teaching staff. 3. Lack of financial support hinders the successful carrying out of educational activities. 4. Sinee the major concern of principal is primary school, the educational quality of public kindergarten is disregarded. Even though the principal is in charge of kindergarten with equal importance. Based on the above observations, the researchers established the following principles in developing models of public kindergartens. 1. Public kindergartens should be established in the areas where an increase in enrollment is expected. 2. If the current affiliation-system of public kindergarten should be maintained as it is, efforts should be made to improve the educational environment and strengthen financial and administrative support. Based on the above two principles, we determined the types of public kindergarten and developed management models for each type as follows.