Research Article

The Visibility of Kitchen and Cleaning Staff Working in Preschool Education Institutions

Number: 4 August 7, 2026
EN TR

The Visibility of Kitchen and Cleaning Staff Working in Preschool Education Institutions

Abstract

Purpose: This research aims to understand the social visibility of kitchen and cleaning staff working in preschools. Method: The research was conducted using basic qualitative research methods. Maximum variation sampling was used to determine the study group, which consisted of a total of 21 people: 5 kitchen staff, 11 cleaning staff, and 5 administrators. Data were collected from the study group through semi-structured interviews, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The research theoretically examined visibility through socio-cultural (the ways in which culture and society influence visibility), socio-legal (the legal and regulatory factors affecting visibility), and socio-spatial (the physical and spatial aspects of visibility) mechanisms. The themes were named after these mechanisms. Coding and categorization processes were conducted based on visibility. Findings: The research findings demonstrate that kitchen and cleaning staff maintain clear socio-cultural and socio-spatial visibility within preschool settings. However, their socio-legal visibility remains fragmented, showing distinct visibility in certain regulatory categories while remaining entirely invisible in others. Conclusion: The research reveals that while the staff are socio-culturally and socio-spatially visible, they experience partial invisibility within the socio-legal dimension. In light of these findings, it is suggested that future visibility research re-examine socio-spatial mechanisms through a broader, more holistic perspective.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

The study adhered to scientific ethical principles.

References

  1. AÇEV. (2005). Okul öncesi eğitimde kalite: Üniversitelerin rolü toplantısı raporu. https://www.acev.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/okul_oncesi_egitimde_kalite_-universitelerin_rolu_toplantisi.pdf
  2. Andreyeva, T., & Henderson, K. E. (2018). Center-reported adherence to nutrition standards of the child and adult care food program. Childhood Obesity, 14(6), 421-428. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2018.0076
  3. Arrabal, A. A. (2013). Starting strong III: A quality toolbox for early childhood education and care. Revista Española de Educación Comparada, 21, 285-289. https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2011/12/starting-strong-iii_g1g1521c/9789264123564-en.pdf
  4. Ateş, Ö. T., Mart, Ö. A., & Türkkaş, C. (2025). The problems of school principals with auxiliary school personnel and suggestions for solutions. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, 73, 345-374. https://doi.org/10.21764/maeuefd.1417759
  5. Barblett, L., & Kirk, G. (2018). National quality standard in schools: Leadership enabling power and agency. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 43(3), 43-51. https://doi.org/10.23965/AJEC.43.3.05
  6. Bauchmüller, R., Gørtz, M., & Rasmussen, A. W. (2014). Long-run benefits from universal high-quality preschooling. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 29(4), 457-470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2014.05.009
  7. Bernal, R., Attanasio, O., Peña, X., & Vera-Hernández, M. (2019). The effects of the transition from home-based childcare to childcare centers on children’s health and development in Colombia. Early childhood research quarterly, 47, 418-431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2018.08.005
  8. Birch, L. L., & Doub, A. E. (2014). Learning to eat: birth to age 2 y. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 99(3), 723-728. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.113.069047

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Education Management

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 7, 2026

Submission Date

January 30, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 22, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 4

APA
Göle, M. O. (2026). The Visibility of Kitchen and Cleaning Staff Working in Preschool Education Institutions. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education, 4, 117-143. https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.1877254
AMA
1.Göle MO. The Visibility of Kitchen and Cleaning Staff Working in Preschool Education Institutions. BUEFAD. 2026;(4):117-143. doi:10.14686/buefad.1877254
Chicago
Göle, Mehmet Oğuz. 2026. “The Visibility of Kitchen and Cleaning Staff Working in Preschool Education Institutions”. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education, nos. 4: 117-43. https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.1877254.
EndNote
Göle MO (August 1, 2026) The Visibility of Kitchen and Cleaning Staff Working in Preschool Education Institutions. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education 4 117–143.
IEEE
[1]M. O. Göle, “The Visibility of Kitchen and Cleaning Staff Working in Preschool Education Institutions”, BUEFAD, no. 4, pp. 117–143, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.14686/buefad.1877254.
ISNAD
Göle, Mehmet Oğuz. “The Visibility of Kitchen and Cleaning Staff Working in Preschool Education Institutions”. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education. 4 (August 1, 2026): 117-143. https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.1877254.
JAMA
1.Göle MO. The Visibility of Kitchen and Cleaning Staff Working in Preschool Education Institutions. BUEFAD. 2026;:117–143.
MLA
Göle, Mehmet Oğuz. “The Visibility of Kitchen and Cleaning Staff Working in Preschool Education Institutions”. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education, no. 4, Aug. 2026, pp. 117-43, doi:10.14686/buefad.1877254.
Vancouver
1.Mehmet Oğuz Göle. The Visibility of Kitchen and Cleaning Staff Working in Preschool Education Institutions. BUEFAD. 2026 Aug. 1;(4):117-43. doi:10.14686/buefad.1877254

All the articles published in the journal are open access and distributed under the conditions of CommonsAttribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License 

88x31.png


Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education