A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF INTEREST AND TALENT EDUCATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the interest/talent education offered to children in early childhood within the context of public and private schools and to examine teachers' opinions on this matter. The research was conducted with 38 teachers working in public and private preschools in the Aegean region, and the data were collected through a questionnaire. The findings revealed significant differences between the two types of schools in terms of the scope, diversity, frequency, and expert support of interest/talent education. While cognitively-oriented activities were more prominent in public schools, private schools offered a greater variety of activities more frequently. Interest/talent education in private schools was generally provided by experts, whereas this support was more limited in public schools. Most teachers believed that these educational activities contribute positively to children's development; however, low participation rates were noted in public schools. Differences were also observed in the sources and uses of budgets based on the type of school. In conclusion, the study indicated that the quality and scope of interest/talent education provided in early childhood vary by school type, which may have important implications for educational policies and practices.

Keywords

• Child
• Interest/Talent
• Education
• Public School
• Private School.

ERKEN ÇOCUKLUKTA ÇOCUKLARA VERİLEN İLGİ/YETENEK EĞİTİMLERİNİN DEVLET VE ÖZEL OKULLAR BAĞLAMINDA KUANTİTATİF AÇIDAN KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI

Öz

Bu çalışma, erken çocukluk döneminde çocuklara sunulan ilgi/yetenek eğitimlerinin devlet ve özel okullar bağlamında karşılaştırılmasını ve öğretmen görüşlerini incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Araştırma, Ege bölgesindeki devlet ve özel anaokullarında görev yapan 38 öğretmenle gerçekleştirilmiş ve veriler anket yöntemiyle toplanmıştır. Bulgular, iki okul türü arasında ilgi/yetenek eğitimlerinin kapsamı, çeşitliliği, uygulama sıklığı ve uzman desteği açısından belirgin farklar olduğunu göstermiştir. Devlet okullarında daha çok bilişsel içerikli etkinlikler öne çıkarken, özel okullarda etkinlik çeşitliliği ve uygulama sıklığı daha yüksektir. Özel okullarda ilgi/yetenek eğitimleri genellikle uzman kişiler tarafından verilirken, devlet okullarında bu destek daha sınırlıdır. Öğretmenlerin çoğunluğu bu eğitimlerin çocuk gelişimine katkı sağladığını düşünmektedir. Ancak devlet okullarında katılım oranının düşük olduğu belirtilmiştir. Bütçe kaynakları ve kullanım alanlarında da okul türüne bağlı olarak farklılıklar gözlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak çalışma, okul türüne bağlı olarak erken çocukluk döneminde sunulan ilgi/yetenek eğitimlerinin niteliği ve kapsamı arasında farklar bulunduğunu ortaya koymakta; bu durumun eğitim politikaları ve uygulamaları açısından önemli sonuçlar doğurabileceğine işaret etmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Çocuk
• ilgi/yetenek
• eğitim devlet okulu
• özel okul.

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