“When time and resources are not enough to do the job as well as you could and would like to do it”

Early Childhood Education staff's conceptions of work-related challenges and opportunities

Authors

• Jonna Kangas Helsingin yliopisto
• Tuulikki Ukkonen-Mikkola Jyväskylän yliopisto
• Katja Sirvio Kokkolan yliopistokeskus Chydenius
• Hanna Hjelt Tampereen yliopisto
• Elina Fonsén Jyväskylän yliopisto

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33350/ka.109089

Keywords:

early childhood education, wellbeing at work, operational culture, teaching, appreciation of education

Abstract

Early childhood education (ECE) in Finland has developed in recent years and extensive reforms have taken place in both staffing and pedagogical content, but ECE is facing a shortage of teachers. Previous research has highlighted problems of social recognition, salary issues, and working conditions. The focus of this study is to identify the challenges teachers face in ECE and to find opportunities to increase their motivation for work. The research was conducted through a questionnaire that was replied to by 469 teachers or former teachers. The factor analysis summarized the main challenges of the work, such as the lack of social recognition and the declining meaningfulness of the work. Improving the salaries became the most essential area for job development. In addition, the results show that ECE teachers feel that they are in control of their work regardless of the increased demands, but the conditions for carrying out the work are challenging.