Institutional education of children under three years - view of Czech parents and teachers

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a quality-oriented survey the goal of which was to describe the opinions of teachers and parents on educating children under three years in pre-school institutions. The article covers a part of the results of a more extensive study. Ten female teachers at pre-school facilities and ten parents of children attending a pre-school facility were the participants. The data sourced using semi-structured interviews were analysed using open coding. The teachers refer to the lack of readiness of the education system, pre-school facilities and teachers themselves to treat children under three years, expressing doubts as to the sufficient maturity of children and the effectiveness of including them into institutional education under the current setting of the Czech education system while the parents often prefer their own needs – particularly to return to their jobs soon and the associated necessity to place the children into institutional education.