1. Purpose and Contents, Method
The purpose of this study was to develop one-integrated model for Korea early childhood education and care(ECEC) system, by exploring its possibility and analyzing the disputes over the creation of an integrated system...
1. Purpose and Contents, Method
The purpose of this study was to develop one-integrated model for Korea early childhood education and care(ECEC) system, by exploring its possibility and analyzing the disputes over the creation of an integrated system in consideration of history, comparative education and the current ECEC system.
For attaining the purpose, the following attempts were made :
First, the actual condition and problem in Korea ECEC system were investigated, after reviewing the theories concerned to the preparation of analytic criteria for that system.
Second, the Korea ECEC system was divided into three stages to find out each stage's characteristics, and each stage's historical implication for the development of one-integrated system was defined.
Third, the international trend of ECEC system was examined by looking into how leading foreign countries, including OECD-member nations, established their own system. Specifically, Japan that had been in a heated controversy about that system was compared with Korea in light of comparative education.
Fourth, the possibility of and disputes over one-integrated ECEC system were analyzed in consideration of factors related to the current ECEC system.
Fifth, one-integrated Korea ECEC system was developed based on the results of the fourth attempt.
The methods of this study was to look into literature concerned and history, make a comparative research, or ask an expert to review the findings of this study and the one-integrated model developed in this study.
2. Major Findings
The findings of this study were as follows :
First, as a result of analyzing the change of educational trend, the concept and function of ECEC, the basic logic, changed from childcare (rearing and care)' to 'educare'.
Second, as a result of looking into the change of Korean system, the need for one-integrated ECEC system was justified by the 'Early Childhood Education & Care Promotion Act' that defined the legal concept of ECEC as comprehensively including care and education for infant and young children.
Third, the international trend was that the approach to ECEC system changed from two-parallel system to two age-related system to one-integrated system. The two age-related system or one-integrated system had more advantages than the two-parallel system.
Fourth, there were approximately 20 kinds of major disputes at issue related to that system's integration in korea, including kindergarten's use of full-time course.
Fifth, ECEC consumers and suppliers had different opinions on those disputes at issue. Further, there also was a wide gap even between suppliers, namely between kindergarten circle and educare center circle, which was caused by different interests.
Sixth, some of the major controversies were getting near to successful solution, which showed the possibility of one-integrated ECEC system.
Seventh, despite above-mentioned possibility, the controversies between kindergarten circle and educare center circle remained unchanged or got deeper. So there were a lot of things which made it difficult to promote integration.
Eighth, this study leaned toward the opinion that advocated its possibility, and a three-stage integrated model was recommended, which was designed to cope with the adverse views of integration.
The first stage was a transitional period toward one-integrated ECEC system. In this period, the two circles would open their facilities to each other in a bid for creating an integrated system during 3 years since the legislation and enforcement of 'Early Childhood Education & Care Act.' The second stage was to establish an age-differentiated integrated ECEC system from 3 years after the enforcement of 'Infant Care Act' and 'Early Childhood Education & Care Act.' The third stage was to actually use one-integrated ECEC system after meeting the conditions for its implementation, including determining school district for preschool and inserting preschool in the existing school system.
3. Conclusion
Based on the above-mentioned findings, this study reached the following conclusion :
First, as the kindergarten circle and educare center circle were narrowing the gap of their views on the concept and function of ECEC, the most crucial basic logic, ECEC systems that were performing the same function based on the same concept must be integrated without fail.
Second, the efforts to establish public education by integrating ECEC systems should no longer be delayed to eliminate the various problems of the current dual system.
Third, an age-differentiated integrated system would be desirable for Korea, although the most ideal pattern was one-integrated system.
Fourth, it's required for 'Early Childhood Education & Care Act' to provide approximately 3 years as a period to make preparations for building an age-differentiated integrated system.
Fifth, a feasible approach to an integrated system was an active national intervention by using a political-decision model in coordinating different arguments as a political behavior and reaching a consensus for legislation.