Preschool Teachers’ Opinions towards Teaching Practices in Accordance with Professional Standards

Abstract

This research aimed to examine preschool teachers' opinions on their professional practice accordance with teaching standards across three aspects: 1) professional values and attributes, 2) knowledge and understanding of education, and 3) professional skills. The sample consisted of 133 preschool teachers from private schools in Nakhon Pathom Province, during the 2023 academic year, selected through purposive sampling. The research instrument was a 5-point rating scale questionnaire; content validity is .93 data were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The findings revealed preschool teachers rated their professional practice highly (M = 4.81). Specifically, 1) professional skills (M = 4.84), received the highest score, with key components including the development of children's full potential (M = 4.75), designing lesson plans and activities beneficial to children (M = 4.88), and conducting systematic evaluations and reports (M = 4.85). 2) Professional values and attributes were also rated highly (M = 4.83), with key components including particularly in terms of professional development (M = 4.78), participation and collaboration in school operations (M = 4.84), and serving as positive role model (M = 4.87). and 3) Knowledge and understanding of early childhood education were rated at a very high level (M = 4.77), with key components including encompassing the improvement and development of early childhood education knowledge (M = 4.80), utilizing evidence-based practice (M = 4.73), and sharing and improving practices with colleagues (M = 4.76).