Abstract
The preschool period plays a key role in environmental education and shaping attitudes towards the environment. It is therefore important that preschool teachers are equipped to provide students with the necessary training in their early stages. This study aims to evaluate the new opportunities for the development of the ecological competencies of future preschool teachers in terms of the views of pre-service teachers. This research was conducted using a qualitative design. The participants of the research consisted of 33 students studying in the 3rd and 4th grades of the preschool teaching department at various universities in Kazakhstan in the 2021-2022 academic year. As a data collection tool, the researchers created a semi-structured interview form. From the result of the research, pre-school teacher candidates found themselves at a medium level in terms of ecological competencies. Pre-school teacher candidates evaluated ecological attitudes and behaviors in the categories of environmental awareness, sensitivity, and volunteerism.
 
 Keywords: Ecological competencies; pre-school; teacher candidates
Highlights
Quality environmental education for children is determined by how they see themselves about the natural world during their real-life experiences
This study aims to evaluate the new opportunities for the development of the ecological competencies of future preschool teachers in terms of the views of pre-service teachers
The data obtained from the semi-structured interview form were given with direct quotations from the views of the pre-service teachers and codes and themes created based on the common points of the answers given by the teachers. In this part of the study, the findings and opinions obtained from the answers of 20 pre-school teacher candidates participating in the study to 6 questions in the semi-structured interview form are included
Summary
Quality environmental education for children is determined by how they see themselves about the natural world during their real-life experiences. The knowledge and skills they acquire are key to both their self-perception and the protection and respect of the natural environment. For this reason, after taking the necessary safety precautions, children should be free to explore the natural world without intermediaries and learn through their own experiences. After taking the necessary safety precautions, children should be free to explore the natural world without intermediaries and learn through their own experiences At this point, teachers who will organize learning opportunities in out-of-school environments such as various natural areas, parks, and gardens become an important dimension of environmental education.
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