ABSTRACT

A Study of the Factors Influencing Changes
in the Child Care Policy of Korea


Kang, Dal Kum
Dept. of Child Psychology & Education
Graduate School of Sungkyunkwan University


For the purpose of seeking after a desirable direction for establishing child care policies, this paper intends to study the factors (direct/indirect factors, and interfering factors) influencing changes in the child care policies, and further to clarify how the factors work in the details of child care at large. In order to attain the research goal, this paper set up the following research questions:
Question 1 Who are directly involved in making a decision for major matters of child care? On what details do they have influence?
Question 2. Who are indirectly involved in making a decision for major matters of child care? On what details do they have influence?
Question 3. Who give interfering factors to decision-making for major matters of child care? On what details do they have influence?
39 politicians and administrative officials, 18 scholars, 63 parents, 88 presidents of child care facilities, and 403 teachers of child care facilities (including some involved in other jobs) - total 611 people - participated in the study. In addition, random sampling was made to collect necessary data from the political world (high-ranking administrative sections and the relevant organizations included), the academic world, the presidents of facilities, teachers, and parents. Theoretical studies were performed from January 2004 to October 2006 through domestic/foreign literatures, and Internet.
A questionnaire was made from April 2005 to August 2005 and then, distributed to politicians (administrative officials included), the academic world (the relevant departments), the presidents of facilities, teachers, parents, and other general public by mail and Internet. The number of the distributed copies was different by the number of the samples of each group. Total 1,200 copies of the questionnaire were distributed for 16 days from October 15, 2005 to October 31, and were collected back for about a month from October 15, 2005 to November 14.
In order to get the answers to the 3 questions, SPSS/WIN+12.0 was employed and frequency, percentage, and 𝞆2 were obtained. In order to examine the factors of each group influencing changes in the child care policies and the details, each item of the questionnaire was segmented more so the answers of lower than 5 points were included into the interpretations of the research. The research results were as follows:
Question 1 The relevant people with the factors directly influencing the decision for the policies of child care at large, and the details are as follows:
The groups of administrative officials (politicians included) and presidents of child care facilities replied that the administrative section had the greatest direct influence on deciding child care policies, which was followed by the political section and then, by the workers of child care facilities. The groups of scholars, teachers, and parents replied that the political section had the greatest influence on deciding child care policies, which was followed by the administrative section and then, by the workers of child care facilities. In relation to what should be considered first, there were some differences in the answers (priority) among the groups, but in general, it was found that children's desire, parents' desire, and the desire of the workers of child care facilities should be considered.
Regarding the first priority in the process of making a decision for child care policies, the groups of administrative officials (including politicians), presidents of child care facilities, and parents replied that professional review of the contents of the policies would be most important, which was followed by the process and the scope of opinion collection, and then, by the methods and strategies for promoting the policy details. The group of teachers thought that the process and the scope of opinion collection would be most important, which was followed by professional review of the contents and then, by the methods and strategies for promoting the policy details.
In relation to the first priority that should be considered in deciding the contents of the child care policies, the groups of administrative officials and parents replied that the philosophy of child care should be considered first, which was followed by the purpose and goals of child care, and then, by children's interests. The group of presidents of child care facilities replied that the philosophy of child care should be considered first, which was followed by children's interests and then, by child care programs. The group of teachers replied that the philosophy of child care should be considered first, which was followed by the workers' interests, by the child care programs, and then, by the child care environment. The group of scholars replied that children's interests should be considered first, which was followed by the philosophy of child care, and then, by the workers' qualification/interests, the cost support system, and adjustment among the relevant ministries and offices (the priority of these three was same.).
In relation to the child care program, the group of administrative officials replied that humanity should be considered most important in making a program, which was followed by sociality and then, by safety. The group of scholars replied that humanity should be considered first, which was followed by health and then, by sociality. The group of presidents of child care facilities replied that humanity would be most important, which was followed by sociality and then, by health. The group of teachers replied that humanity would be most important, which was followed by sociality and then, by safety. The group of parents replied that humanity would be most important, which was followed by sociality and then, by health.
In relation to the promotional methods for the contents of child care policies, the group of administrative officials replied that promotion through national TV would be best, which was followed by through national newspaper and then, by through Internet. The group of scholars replied that promotion through national TV would be best, which was followed by through Internet and then, by through national newspaper. The group of presidents of child care facilities replied that promotion through national TV would be best, which was followed by through national newspaper and then, by through administrative organizations involved in promotion. The group of teachers replied that promotion through national TV would be best, which was followed by through national newspaper and then, by through Internet. The group of parents replied that promotion through national TV would be best, which was followed by through Internet and then, by through national newspaper.
Question 2 The relevant people with the factors indirectly influencing the decision for the policies of child care at large, and the details are as follows:
The academic world was found to have the greatest indirect influence on deciding child care policies, which was followed by parents, by relevant organizations, and then by the press. More specifically, in terms of the academic world, child studies/child welfare section was found to have the greatest indirect influence, which was followed by family studies-related section and then, by nursing field.
In relation to indirect things that should be considered for making a decision for child care policies, it was replied child care professionals' desires (opinions) and administrative officials' desires (opinions) should be considered. Information opening was pointed out as the process and the method of policy-making. In relation to the process of collecting opinions, the participants replied that opinions should be collected through professionals most, which was followed by through the relevant organizations. In relation to what should be considered for making a decision for child care policies, the participants replied that fund raising should be considered first, which was followed by the workers' qualification and interests, by child care purpose and goal, by expansion of child care cost support, and then, by cost supporting system. Most respondents answered that a program for parents education should be included into the child care programs, which was followed by environment-related program and then, by linguistic development-related.
Question 3 The relevant people with the factors interfering the decision for the policies of child care at large, and the details are as follows:
In relation to the factors that interfere the decision-making for the development of child care, the group of administrative officials replied that interest groups were the greatest interfering factor, which was followed by politicians and then, by the presidents of facilities. The groups of scholars, presidents of child care facilities, and parents replied that interest groups were the greatest interfering factor, which was followed by politicians and by administrative officials. The group of teachers replied that administrative officials were the greatest interfering factor, which was followed by politicians and then, by interest groups. There was a difference in the ranking of the answers among the groups, but it was found that politicians, interest groups, and administrative officials were interfering factors.
In relation to the reasons why desirable child care policies can't be decided, the groups of administrative officials, scholars, presidents of child care facilities, and parents replied that policy makers' philosophy would be the first interfering factor, while the group of teachers pointed out that there would be a problem with selecting a policy maker.
In relation to the biggest difficulty in deciding child care policies, the group of administrative officials replied that a difficulty in obtaining/dividing financial resources, and in the support management system would be greatest, which was followed by administrative officials' consciousness and right execution, and by conflicts/a lack of understanding/professionalism among the relevant groups (interest groups). The group of scholars replied that politicians' lack of influence/ understanding/professionalism would be greatest, which was followed by conflicts/a lack of understanding/professionalism/understanding among the relevant groups (interest groups), by a difficulty in obtaining/dividing financial resources and in the support management system, and then, by the administrative officials' consciousness/professionalism/right execution. The group of presidents of child care facilities replied that a difficulty in obtaining/dividing financial resources and in the support management system would be greatest, which was followed by politicians' lack of influence/understanding/ professionalism, and then, by administrative officials' consciousness/professionalism/right execution. The group of teachers replied that a difficulty in obtaining/dividing financial resources and in the support management system would be greatest, which was followed by politicians' lack of influence/understanding/professionalism, and then, by teachers' consciousness, professionalism, and lack of understanding/participation chances. The group of parents replied that a difficulty in obtaining/dividing financial resources and in the support management system would be greatest, which was followed by administrative officials' consciousness, professionalism, and right execution, and then by, politicians' lack of influence/understanding/ professionalism. There were some significant differences among the respondents' groups.
In relation to the subjects whose desires are most ignored in the process of making a decision for child care policies, the group of administrative officials replied that teachers' desires were most ignored, which was followed by children's and then, by parents'. The group of scholars replied that children's desires were most ignored, which was followed by parents' and then, by teachers'. The group of presidents of child care facilities replied that their desires were most ignored, which was followed by children's and then, by teachers'. The group of teachers replied that teachers' desires were most ignored, which was followed by children's and then, by parents'. The group of parents replied that teachers' desires were most ignored, which was followed by children's and then, by parents'. There were some differences in the ranking of the answers, but it was found that children's desires, parents' and teachers' were not reflected.
Regarding the extent of responsibility and prudence of those who participate in making a decision for child care policies, and their child care philosophy and sense of values, each group replied average or higher. However, the answer of lower than average (not prudent) was found in each group, which means that decision makers may have some problems in their responsibility and prudence.
In relation to the attitude (authoritative property) of those who participate in decision-making for child care policies, every group replied that they were quite (average or higher) authoritative. The group of administrative officials replied that it was normal, but the groups of scholars, presidents of child care facilities, teachers, and parents replied that it was quite authoritative. In addition, there were quite many respondents who replied that they were very authoritative.
Regarding professionalism of those who participate in decision-making for child care policies, in the group of administrative officials, the answer of being average was most, which was followed by quite professional and then, by not professional. In the group of scholars, the answer of being average was most, which was followed by not professional and then, by quite professional. In the group of presidents of child care facilities, the answer of quite professional was most, which was followed by not professional and then, by average. In the group of teachers, the answer of being average was most, which was followed by quite professional and then, by not professional. In the group of parents, the answer of average was most, which was followed by quite professional and then, by not professional. There were some differences among the groups. In relation to the sense of responsibility that those participating in the decision for child care policies feel for child development, all the groups replied that they had average or lower responsibility, which means that they tend to make a decision in their positions, rather than based on the sense of responsibility for children.
In relation to the intention to participate in the decision-making for child care policies and to tell ideas, the groups of administrative officials and scholars were quite positive, and the group of presidents of child care facilities was very positive. The groups of teachers and parents showed normal response. It was found that teachers and parents were worse at positively telling their ideas than administrative officials, scholars and presidents of child care facilities.
In generalizing the above research results, it can be said that all the contents included into the priority factors directly influencing changes in child care policies become the interfering factors so it is necessary to review and prepare countermeasures for the process of making a decision for child care policies, for the participants in policy-making, for the contents of child care policies, and for the method of child care policy-making.