포스트코로나 시대 양육지원체계 재구조화 연구

Abstract

The covid-19 pandemic tremendously impacted the ECEC environment and system in Korea, by closing many ECEC public programs and facilities. To understand this impact and figure out the impending issues and problems, this study used multiple strategies, including a nationwide survey of parents and workforce in ECEC and child-welfare facilities; a review of national policies and guidelines for childcare centers and kindergartens. Based on the collected multiple data, this study analyzed how the pandemic has reshaped the ECEC and childrearing arena and ECE experiences and daily lifives of young children and their families throughout the past two years. This study focused on the three main themes as follows, concerning the restructuring of childcare support system and policies for the post-pandemic time. First, the dual ECEC system of child care and educaiton revealed the gap of pandemic coping in childcare center and kindergarten. The implementation of national curriculum and pedagogy during the center closing and emergency care system. Second, covid-19 pandemic led to a huge change in the labour market of working parents and the on-off working styles. Thus the parenting support programs need to adjust the connection and the compatiblity among service, time, cash supports. Third, the most disadvantaged area(blind spot) such as the detection of child abuse and the child welfare facilities were reviewed and the improvement issues were discussed and proposed. Considering the future agenda of Korea (low fertility rate, climate crisis, digitalization, well-being and competence), the three main themes and improvements for better working child care support policies and programs, need to be considered for policy making and program implementation. Our findings suggest that the pandemic has highlighted already existing problems in the fragmented ECEC, primary educaiotna and care, and the child-welfare system. Pandemic-related problems may give rise to greater support for better integrated systems and consolidation in the public-private sectors but might also lead to support for an more expanded, comprehensive child care support system including mental health care and counseling, primary school education and care, and the community involvement.