Exploring the preschool teachers' views on professionalism, quality of education and sustainability: International study in Estonia and Turkey

Abstract

Since education is a dynamic process and open to contemporary changes, professionalism which is vitally important for the sustainability of teacher education, has gained importance. Recent studies have emphasised the relations between professionalism and quality of teacher education and sustainability. The aim of the current study was to interview preschool teachers and to explore their views and understandings about professionalism, quality of preschool education, and sustainability in Estonian and Turkish cultural contexts. In this study, qualitative research methods were used to analyse the data obtained from the participants. Fifteen preschool teachers from Estonia and 36 preschool teachers currently working in different parts of Turkey participated in the study. They were asked to respond to 15 open-ended questions about professionalism and quality of teacher education and sustainability. Content analysis techniques were used for coding, finding the themes, arranging the sub-themes for interpreting the data obtained. Some suggestions are made to the teachers and educational policy makers related to the research findings.