Predictors of Chinese early childhood program quality: Implications for policies

Bi Ying Hu, Miranda Chi Kuan Mak, Jennifer Neitzel, Kejian Li and Xitao Fan

Children and Youth Services Review, 2016, vol. 70, issue C, 152-162

Abstract: This study explores the relationship between structural variables and program quality in early childhood programs across economic, sociocultural, and policy contexts in Zhejiang, China. Using the Chinese Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (CECERS), researchers collected data in 162 randomly selected classrooms representative of the sociocultural and economic conditions of Chinese early childhood programs. The findings showed that a set of program structural variables accounted for 60% of the variance in overall program quality. Similar findings were shown for two specific program quality indicators: structural quality (‘Provisions for Learning’) and process quality (‘Teaching & Interaction’). Results suggest that policy makers in early childhood education in China should offer more benefits and training for teachers, recognize teachers' professional qualifications, and maintain lower child-to-teacher ratio to improve Chinese ECE programs.

Keywords: Chinese Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale; Structural predictor; Process quality; Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:70:y:2016:i:c:p:152-162

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.09.013

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