Review article
The development of the early childhood education and care in Croatia: paradigm change or path dependence?
Jelena Baran
Ivana Dobrotić
orcid.org/0000-0001-7616-3234
; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Studijski centar socijalnog rada
Teo Matković
orcid.org/0000-0002-3538-1873
; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Studijski centar socijalnog rada
Abstract
This paper presents the development of the institutionalized preschool education system in Croatia in the context of the ideological, institutional and legal framework within which the system was maturing. This development has been put into the context of two models of the institutionalization of preschool education in European countries. Croatia is characterized by relatively early state regulation in this domain and pluralism of the proclaimed functions. However, in practise social function prevails over the educational one and preschool programmes are treated as services for children of employed parents. The system has remained goal-oriented and residual, as for the significance the society attributes to it, so too in the proportion of the preschool age population encompassed by the programmes. During the transition period continuity compared to the previous organization is visible. Certain changes concerning the pluralism of the founders, funding and improving of the educational standards of quality have been introduced, but they may be considered only as necessary adjustments of the existing public political instruments to new circumstances, but not as changes of the developmental course.
Keywords
functions of preschool education; Croatia; organizational forms; historical development; preschool education
Hrčak ID:
82790
URI
Publication date:
15.10.2011.
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