ABSTRACT

This research overviewed the present situation of Korean early childhood education and care workforce'scertification, education and training, and working conditions, according to the elements to assure thequality of teachers. Results show that structure and condition of the initial teacher training system,certificating system, professionalism development system and working environment and treatment ofkindergarten teachers were slightly better than child care center teachers', and private kindergartenteachers' were better than the public teachers'. The hidden issues behind it such as marginalization,traditional child caring discourse and underestimating of caring were pointed out, which must beconsidered in addition to the elements related to teachers' quality that appear on the surface, when theintegration plan of kindergarten and day care center is discussed.

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