An analysis on the preferences of families sending their children to the Quran course or kindergarten

With the regulation published in the Official Gazette in 2012, the Qur'an courses affiliated to the Presidency of Religious Affairs (DİB) became one of the institutions preferred by families for their children aged 4-6 years. The aim of the study is to determine the reasons for the preference of the families who send their children in the 4-6 age group to DIB courses or kindergartens operating under the Ministry of National Education (MEB). The study is based on a qualitative research model, phenomenology research approach, It was conducted with the total 22 course and kindergarten parents living in a low socio-economic status district of Istanbul. Data collected through semi-structured interviews were analyzed via content analysis. It was seen that the participants of the study, the kindergarten and course parents defined the Qur'an courses, called also as sıbyan mektepleri (traditional education institutions of the Ottoman Era,, as "preschool". In addition to the religious officials, it was found out that the course teachers and administration see no difference between Qur'an courses and kindergartens and directed the parents to the courses in this way. The parents of the courses stated that the courses are even more advantageous than kindergartens because they provide pre-school education as well as religious education. The parents stated that this is the reason for their preference for the courses In the study, almost all the parents of the courses and kindergartens stated that if an institution belongs to the state, it is reliable and preferable for them. It was seen that the social networks and trust feelings of the families who participated in the study had an effect in the institution choice process. Whereas the kindergarten parents actively used richer social networks in the process of institution choice and trust other parents; the parents of the courses used hierarchical social networks limited to the clergy and course teachers, and they also did not trust other parents. In addition, the parents of the courses stated that they preferred to send their children to the courses because they thought that religious education at a young age would be permanent. It was observed that the kindergarten parents preferred kindergarten in order for their children to learn school culture. In the study, it was found out that all families preferred the institution close to home during the preference process, and they did not conduct extensive research on other institutions. In addition, it was found out that most of the parents of the courses and kindergartens criticized the institutions in terms of short operating hours, insufficient social activities and lack of physical equipment of the institution, and they expected these conditions to be corrected. Key Words: Preschool Education, Social Capital, Qur'an Course, School Choice Policies,Habitus