Early Childhood Care in So-called "Popular Neighborhoods" of the Wilaya of Oran : Study of Social Inequalities

Kindergartens represent a particularly important stage in the initial socialization and cultural development of children. For this reason, these institutions require an educator who is not like all others. She must possess specific qualities, as she works with children who have different ways of thinking. A kindergarten teacher must therefore be scientifically and pedagogically qualified to carry out this demanding task. Many intellectual, emotional, physical, professional, and moral qualities must be present in the educator, as she works with a “malleable material” in the form of children, shaping them as she sees fit. She must therefore demonstrate a high level of responsibility, knowledge, and ethics to ensure the formation of a competent, thoughtful, and well-mannered generation.

Thus, the profession of early childhood educator is extremely sensitive and requires specific personal qualities, as well as precise training and qualifications. Kindergarten teachers play a central role alongside the family in building the child’s psychological and cognitive foundations. The importance of experiences during early childhood and their impact on the child’s future life cannot be underestimated. At this stage, children are highly receptive to their environment, which makes their care crucial and highlights the significance of this profession.

Unfortunately, despite its importance and sensitivity, the appreciation of the profession’s true value is diminishing day by day. This is partly due to the public’s lack of knowledge about many aspects of the profession. Sometimes this ignorance even extends to the educators themselves, who, unfortunately, may not fully understand their profession and, in many cases, have chosen it out of necessity or by chance, leaving them insufficiently qualified to perform their work effectively.

In this context, this study aims to examine the behavior of kindergarten teachers in daycare centers by asking several questions: Who is this woman or young girl? How does she interact with preschool-aged children? On what basis did she choose this profession (child education)?

Project Objectives:

To identify the socio-psychological characteristics of kindergarten teachers during the preparatory education stage, particularly in kindergartens located in so-called “popular” neighborhoods of Oran and its surroundings, and to assess the quality of their supervision.To determine the social need for kindergartens in these neighborhoods by evaluating their distribution and analyzing the quality of education provided to children.To assess the quality of the facilities used for educating and teaching children under six years old in so-called “popular” neighborhoods, and their suitability for the children’s psychological and physical well-being.

Long-term Objectives:

To establish a knowledge base on preparatory education in Algeria (specifically kindergartens not affiliated with the Algerian primary school system), drawing on previous studies conducted by the National Center for Research in Social and Cultural Anthropology (CRASC), Oran.To provide a body of information on women’s work in the field of kindergarten education.To study how educators perceive their profession and determine whether they consider this work as part of an entrepreneurial activity.