재외한국학교 병설유치원 운영 실태 및 지원 방안 연구

Abstract

As the law to establish a kindergarten attached to the overseas Korean schools was enacted on September, 2010, the Korean government has officially begun to support the early childhood education of overseas Korean children. Currently, 30 overseas Korean schools are operating in 15 countries around the world. Among them 16 schools have an attached kindergarten operating. The number of children enrolled in these kindergartens amount to 898, which takes up 7.9% of the total students in the overseas Korean schools. With the increasing number of overseas Koreans and their preschool aged children, the demand for ECE provision has risen. This study examined the current status and demands for governmental support of the kindergartens within the overseas Korean schools. Questionnaire surveys were undertaken with 16 directors and 52 teachers of 16 kindergartens attached to the overseas Korean schools and 334 parents of 9 overseas Korean kindergartens. In addition, principles of 14 overseas Korean schools without an attached kindergartens were participated in the questionnaire survey regarding their plans and needs for establishing attached kindergartens. Site visits and interviews were also undertaken with parents and teachers in overseas Korean kindergartens. The study focused on investigating the current status of enrolled children and teachers, learning environments, finances and tuition fees, curriculum, teacher qualifications and in-service training, parental involvement, and quality assurance of kindergartens attached to overseas Korean schools. Based on findings of the study, several policy recommendations are provided including expanding overseas Korean kindergartens, providing subsidies for teachers and kindergartens, allowing more autonomy in curriculum planning and implementation, establishing a delivery system of teaching and learning materials, strengthening continuous teacher training and quality monitoring mechanisms.