TEACHERS’ OPINIONS ON THE UPDATED PRESCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM: THE CASE OF TURKEY

The research aims to understand the views of preschool teachers working in the Bahcelievler district of Istanbul, affiliated with the Ministry of National Education (MoNE), regarding the strengths and areas for improvement of the 2024 MoNE Preschool Education Program and the Türkiye Century Education Model Preschool Education Program (2024) (1). This study employs a qualitative research method, specifically a case study design, characterized as a holistic single case study. The convenience sampling method, a type of purposeful sampling commonly used in qualitative research, has been utilized for sample selection. A total of 15 voluntarily participating preschool teachers from the Bahcelievler district of Istanbul have been determined as the sample group. Data of the research were collected through individual interviews. In the research, when preschool teachers were asked to list the essential characteristics of a preschool education program, they predominantly emphasized the importance of the program being child-centered and flexible. Regarding program content, the most significant aspect identified was the necessity of incorporating values education and the availability of diverse, high-quality learning materials. These emphases indicate a consensus among teachers about the fundamental qualities that a preschool education program should possess to effectively meet the developmental needs of children.