인구감소지역 어린이집 원장의 보육정책에 관한 인식과 요구

Abstract

Objectives The purposes of this study was to examine day-care center directors’ child-care policies in the depopulation areas.
 Methods To this end, it administered questionnaires to directors of 25 day-care centers located at the depopulation areas and conducted a descriptive statistical analysis on the responses.
 Results The findings are as follows: First, the reorganization of the child-care support system was positively recognized in terms of the management of day-care centers and extended class, the enhancement of child-care quality and users’ satisfaction. On the other hand, it did not contribute to the reduction of day-care teachers’ paperwork, preparation for daily lessons and increase of research time. The management of open child-care centers was positively recognized, while it was reported to increase day-care center teachers’ workload and make it difficult to encourage parents’ participation. The service satisfaction of the day-care center support system was generally higher. Second, it was found to be most difficult to ‘attract kindergartners’ in managing day-care centers in the depopulation areas. Vulnerable child-care services (young children with special needs and multicultural child-care) were in the strongest demand.
 Conclusions This study intends to provide basic data for developing and managing child-care policies proper and specific to the depopulation areas and suggestions for more substantial customized child-care policies.