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THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Recent years the importance of primary education increasing in many countries

especially in developing countries. The view toward the primary education is that the child does
not come to life with all the skills and information he/she needs. An environment which will
provide various opportunities for new learning is very important for a child's future
success(http://www.springerlink.com/content/48856w164338m414/fulltext.pdf). Many studies
conducted on the importance of early childhood education showing the importance of having
childhood education. According to Bloom¶s research, of all the mental development until the age
of 17 years, 50% is completed by the age of 4 years, 30% between 4 years and 8 years, and the
remaining 20% takes place between the ages of 8 years and 17 years. Bekman and Gürlesel
(2005) argue that development starts with birth, even before, with the falling of the child into the
mother¶s womb and continues for the rest of the life. According to them, the first 6 years of life
is the fastest period for development and is the period that is open to the effects of the
environment. Children are physically depended on adults when they are born and during the first
years of their lives; however, they actually have advanced faculty of five senses. In other words,
they are ready to interact with the environment. The fact that children can learn their mother
tongue easily is a sign that they have cognitive capacity. Another study conducted by ·


 on his work The effect of selected preschool activities on the success of reading
comprehension: A Turkish experience
  
 
 
  
 

 





    

  



 






  
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The most comprehensive search on the importance and effects of early childhood
education on Turkey is conducted by the ¢



 
  

 
under the name longitudinal investigation of effects of early support programs. The project
conducted on students having low income and education level families in Istanbul. Different
early education intervention programs applied on these students and the effects have been
investigated for about 22 years. First study conducted between 1982-1986 then following study
conducted on 1991 when these children were at the age 13-14. The last following study held at
2004 when the participants reached 24-26 years old. The results of last follow up study indicates
that support provided in early childhood period leads developments in individual language skills,
increase in education years, adaptation to modern life by using tools computers and credit cards.

The studies conducted by (Karoly ve diğerleri, 1998) shows the impacts of early
childhood education in the long run. The study shows that people attend early childhood
education will have less inclination to crime in the long run. Also the effects covers the issues
participation to work power, self satisfaction of children in economic concerns and tendency to
having less addicted to drugs.

5 yas ustu icin 65% anaokullasma orani turkiye geneli ilkogretim icin 98.17 lik
ilkogretim okullasmasinin hala cok altinda.

Importance of Primary education:

Primary education topic could not get its deserved importance for many years in Turkey.
Up to now many students in Turkey could not had a chance to involve in primary education.
Reasons behind this vary in content. Some stem from lack of primary school opportunities
mostly in rural areas some are the lack of information about the importance of primary
education. The data compiled by both public foundations and private foundations showing the
place of primary education in Turkey. According to data from
TUIK«««««««««««««««««««. And the data given by Tubitak shows that
primary schoolization rates in Turkey by the year 2004-2005 is 16 percent.
(http://www.tusiad.org/FileArchive/duyuruno681.pdf). For many years primary school
education has been considered by parents as a place that children play games.