The examination of parents' expectations from early childhood education institutions and the institutions' leve of meeting these expectations (Sample of Aksaray province)

The aim of this thesis is to examine parents' expectations from early childhood education institutions and the institutions' level of meeting these expectations in Aksaray province. Descriptive survey model was preffered for this study. Sample of the study consists of 408 parents whose children enrolled in classrooms for 48-72 months of age children in early childhood istitutions in the center of Aksaray province. Convenient sampling method was used for selecting the participants. Data collection tools were ''Personal Information Form'', ''Parents' Expectations Questionnaire" and "Level of Meeting Expectations Questionnaire" which were developed by Yeşilyurt and İvrendi (2011). Descriptive analyses were run for two questionnares. The relationship between items of two questionnares and demographic variables were determined by running chi-square tests. According to the research results, the expectations of parents from early childhood education institutions and the level of meeting these expectations are generally high and the parents of girls, in gender variable, and the mothers who do not work, in mother's working status variable, have a high rate of participation in child's teacher being bachelor degree graduate. In education status variable, the parents having associate's and higher degree have higher expectations for the items related to organizing out-of school activities and offering the child independence. The variables of child's birth order cause to significant differences in the item regarding that the teacher should have bachelor degree. While the level of meeting the expectations is not differentiated according to the child's gender, the mothers who do not work have stated that their expectations regarding to early childhood education and gaining independency of their children have been fullfilled more compared to working mothers. Mothers who do not work have stated that their expectations about getting to know other families are met more compared to working mothers. The level of meeting the expectations has been significantly influenced by educational background and child's birth order. Research results have been discussed in the light of literature and suggestions have been presented.