Objective: This study aimed to provide policy implications by studying the class
size of early childhood education institutes.
Methods: By looking through researches, the educational influence of class size
was examined. By using the latest statistical data, class size standard and status
were compared. After class size perception in the field was considered and the
main results of advanced researches were summarized and analyzed, the actual
condition of class size was diagnosed. Furthermore, the national research trend
was analyzed.
Results: First, class size was an influencing factor on young children and
teachers and its importance was reconfirmed. Second, as for standard in relation
to class size in Korea, the maximum class size and teacher-child ratio were not
presented together. In respect of overseas standards, infancy has similar
standards, but early childhood has a little higher ratio. In the educational fields,
there was growing awareness that class size should be modified. Third, there
were not enough domestic researches on class size and they tended to be biased
in terms of the method, targets, and contents.
Conclusion/Implications: It is suggested that it is necessary to establish a class
size policy for future early childhood education institutes, to implement a system,
and to perform follow-up studies.