How Does Alternation of Childcare Providers Affect Childcare Quality and Children?

Abstract

Japan currently promotes the marketization of early childhood education and care (ECEC) to meet increasing demand, and some local governments are rapidly privatizing public childcare centers. Consequently, childcare centers consigned to corporations providing services at lower cost are increasing. How does such alternation of providers affect childcare quality and children separated from familiar caregivers? This case study describes declining quality of childcare services in a public hospital outsourced to private enterprise, demonstrating that it negatively influences children's emotional stability. This paper concludes that childcare quality assurance requires the extension of contract periods; the regulation of the price of outsourcing; the clarification of new and previous providers' obligations; and improvement of caregivers' wages.