Preschool teachers' views on equal opportunities in education

In this research, the views of a study group consisting of 40 preschool teachers working in private and state-owned kindergartens in the Şile district of Istanbul and Bursa during the 2022-2023 academic year are examined regarding equal opportunities in education. The data collection tool used is the "Equal Opportunities in Education Interview Form", which consists of two main sections: personal information and interview questions. The personal information section includes gender, age, school graduated from, seniority, school name, and the city where the school is located. In the second section, interview questions consisting of 7 items related to equal opportunities in education are asked, and their answers are recorded. The data collection process is conducted through face-to-face interviews and takes approximately 20-25 minutes. This interview form aims to determine the opinions of preschool teachers on equal opportunities in education. According to the results of the research, when examining the views of preschool teachers on equal opportunities in education, the main theme highlighted by the participants is equality. According to the participants, it is important for every individual to have the right to receive education under equal conditions. Access to education for individuals is a fundamental requirement for equal opportunities in education, so children attending school smoothly is a critical step in achieving this equality. The uniqueness and different needs of each individual should be remembered, and appropriate education should be provided by taking these characteristics into account. When explaining the concept of equal opportunities in education, participants emphasized the need to treat everyone equally regardless of factors such as ethnic background, gender, and economic status. Additionally, participants observed that institutions having different facilities lead to inequality in education, and therefore, institutions should have similar facilities. Participants who believe that regional differences hinder equal opportunities in education have expressed the need to reduce these differences. Participants who consider preschool education to play a significant role in equal opportunities have emphasized that bringing children together in the same environment regardless of different conditions is a critical step at this stage. Finally, participants believe that socio-economic status has a significant impact on equal opportunities in education.