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Determinants of pre-school quality in Singapore: An investigation of the effects on teachers of parents’ involvement
Citation
Sharpe, P. (1994, November 24-26). Determinants of pre-school quality in Singapore: An investigation of the effects on teachers of parents’ involvement [Paper presentation]. 8th Annual Conference of the Educational Research Association, Singapore.
Author
Sharpe, Pamela
Abstract
Parents are usually anxious about the quality of pre-school education for their children, and Singapore is no exception. As such, research into quality indicators of pre-school care and education continues to receive much attention, especially in terms of identifying which aspects are related to positive outcomes for chidlren, their parents and the policy makers. However, the significance of the day to day pre-school experiences per se, are rarely investigated. Rather than considering outcomes, this paper reports a study which is concerned with pre-school teachers' views on selected aspects of their working environment, in particular their dealings with parents, as determinant measure of quality in pre-schools. The majority of pre-school centres in Singapore have a centre structure and environment which by necessity adhere to government regulations. Except for teachers' views and feelings about aspects of their working conditions, most of the usual measures of centre quality are requlated. The study is concerned to identify which features of their day to day encounters most satisfactorily contribute to their roles as pre-school teachers, and to examine any differences attributable to qualifications and experience. The results show, that whilst there are some differences between teachers according to qualifications and experience, amongst the most positive features are satisfaction with parents, children's behaviour, and positive support from other teachers.
Date Issued
November 1994