Conceptualization and Assessment of Key Competencies of Preschool Children in China

• In Event: 18.058 - MTCC Roundtable Session Four
  In Roundtable Session: 18.058-5 - Pre-K Policy Implementation

Abstract

Equal access to high-quality preschools has been a critical challenge in early childhood education development in China. This study is an attempt to define and select key competencies for children to achieve in preschool years in China from the stakeholders’ point of views, and evaluate from the stakeholders’ perspectives how such key competencies were obtained by the children under care. This study employs 2-phase sequential exploratory mixed methods in examining the conceptualization and operationalization of early childhood key competencies. From cross-cultural perspective, this study aims to represent Chinese grass-root voices regarding values on children development and values on quality of early childhood education, and to contribute a case of how the conceptual framework can be translated into reform actions.

Authors

• Yumei Han, Southwest University

• Wenfan Yan, University of Massachusetts - Boston

• xiaoping yang, Southwest University

• naiqing song, Southwest University