Development of quality improvement requirements for early childhood development centers
Jutamas Chotibang and Somsiri Rungamornrat
Chiangmai University, Thailand
Mahidol University, Thailand
: J Diagnos Tech Biomed Anal
Abstract
The objective of this study is to develop a set of criteria and indicators to assess the standard of quality of development centres for early childhood. The combined learning system of the Child Development Centre is examined using mixed methods in order to fulfil the following three aims: (1) identification and establishment of elements to be used as a framework for the development of indicators for assessment through review literature from relevant and related agencies; (2) development of indicators for quality assessment using data obtained from comprehensive, formal, and informal interviews of participants involved in nineteen study areas, covering the North, North-east, South, East, and Central regions, and reviewed through content analysis; (3) establishment of indicators to be used as criteria for standard of quality assessment of Child Development Centres, with evaluation of content validity and accuracy conducted by experts (Cronbach Alpha coefficient of reliability). Development of standard of quality criteria for Child Development Centres must encompass all five internal key management systems: the Child Development Centre Management System, Environmental Management System, Curriculum Management System, Healthcare System, and Family and Community Participation System. The process consists of three stages: (1) evaluation of operational methods and processes of the Child Development Centre (total 52 reliability measures at 0.93); (2) evaluation of performance (total 30 reliability measures at 0.95), and; (3) general assessment (27 indicators). These tools lay the foundation for benchmarking and performance profiling of Child Development Centres. Results of comparisons can be utilized for planned, systematic improvements.
Biography
Jutamas Chotibang has completed his PhD at the age of 8 years from Chiangmai University. I am a Director of the Excellent Center of Child and Adolescent Health. I have published more than 15 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute.
E-mail: chotibang.coact@gmail.com
