TEACHERS ATTITUDES TOWARDS INCLUSION OF REFUGEE CHILDREN IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE CENTERS IN GREECE

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17770/eid2022.2.6904

Keywords:

Inclusion, attitudes, preschool refugee children, preschool centers, preschool teachers

Abstract

Since 2015, increased numbers of refugee families with pre-school-aged children have arrived in Greece. Inclusion preschool refugee children in quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) centers is about embracing diversity, including every child holistically and providing opportunities for all children to participate and benefit. The present study examined the general ECEC teachers’ attitudes towards the inclusion of refugee children into their classroom in public ECEC centers, their behavior and factors that might influence the attitudes towards inclusion based on Eagly & Chaiken’s  three-component model of attitude and Bronfenbrenner’s theory. The research sample consists of 114 ECEC teachers working at public municipal child care centers in the area of Thessaloniki in Northern Greece. The results showed that the ECEC teachers have positive attitude towards inclusion of refugee children, however seemed doubtful in the implementation of inclusion.

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Author Biographies

  • Christina Megalonidou, International Hellenic University Department of Early Childhood Education and Care P.O. Box 141, Sindos 57400, Thessaloniki, GREECE.
    Christina Megalonidou Assistant Professor International Hellenic University Department of Early Childhood Education and Care P.O. Box 141, Sindos 57400, Thessaloniki, GREECE. Tel: +306979414702 E-mail: megaloni@ihu.gr Christina Megalonidou is Assistant Professor in International Hellenic University, Department of Early Childhood Education and Care, Thessaloniki, Greece. She is expert in early childhood pedagogy and development psychology. Her research interesting is on social policy, assessment of preschool education and care quality, development and social psychology
  • Michael Vitoulis, International Hellenic University, Department of Early Childhood Education and Care, Thessaloniki

     

    Michael Vitoulis is Assistant Professor in International Hellenic University (IHU), Dept. of Early Childhood Care & Education of the School of Social Sciences at International Hellenic University. He has over 20 years of teaching experience in undergraduate and postgraduate study programs at various universities (International University, Hellenic Open University, University of West Attica). His research interests focus on: a) Digital Pedagogy, b) ICT in Education, c) Creativity and Innovation in Education, d) Teaching Methodology Ιssues, e) Open and Distance Education and f) in Intercultural Education. 

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Published

19.12.2022

How to Cite

Megalonidou, C., & Vitoulis, M. (2022). TEACHERS ATTITUDES TOWARDS INCLUSION OF REFUGEE CHILDREN IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE CENTERS IN GREECE. Education. Innovation. Diversity., 2(5), 6-19. https://doi.org/10.17770/eid2022.2.6904