Quantitative content analysis of kindergarten regulations based on IECD indexes

IECD is an integrated view on children’s rights and concerns the needs of children under 8. This approach is based on the fact that childhood is the most crucial phase of personal growth and development. The main purpose of this study is an investigation on kindergartens ‘regulations based on IECD indexes.

Qualitative content analysis is applied in this research. Statistical population is considered as 17 cases of regulations about establishing, managing and dissolving kindergartens; educational and health guidelines and welfare organization acts from 1983 to 2015. The main tool of the research is the checklists of content analysis based on IECD indexes.

The investigation on mentioned texts based on the main indexes IECD, including health, nutrition, care, education and parent support revealed that the first four indexes received consideration, but the fifth index i.e. parents support is neglected. Also it was found out that physical aspects received more consideration in health index while children’s mental and social health are neglected. This is also true about children’s care. In the aspect of nutrition, all emphasis is on food safety and issues such as the richness of food and consistent nourishment are overlooked. The last point is that children with special characteristics such as physical, movement or mental disabilities are not considered in these texts.

The main purpose of IECD programme is integrating different aspects of children growth and development, so first we have to run macro policy and then measure executive levels.