The unification of kindergarten and nursery schools is one of the most important tasks in early childhood care and education. Although the issue of unification so far has been discussed from the point of administration, government polices, economic efficiency, and so on, there have been very few discussions by researchers or teachers who are committed to early childhood development and care. The main purposes of this study are to clarify the differences in understanding the unification among kindergarten teachers and nursery school teachers, to clarify the relationship between the unification and their principles, and to clarify how instructors of kindergarten and nursery teacher training schools regard and deal with the task of unification. Forty-one percent of the kindergarten and nursery teachers and 17% of the training school instructors answered the questionnaires. The topic of unification was recognized by most of the educators and identified by them as the integration of kindergartens and nursery schools. While approximately 70% of the kindergarten teachers were against the unification, approximately 50% of the nursery teachers supported it. There is a clear difference of opinion on the subject between kindergarten teachers and nursery teachers. The relationship between teachers' principles and the concept of unification also differs between kindergarten teachers and nursery teachers. More than 80% of the kindergarten teachers and training school instructors were aware that the issue of unification had been discussed. The results demonstrate a clear necessity to reconsider and discuss various problems regarding the issue of unification. Thirty to forty percent of the respondents pointed out the impossibility of the unification plan. This shows the difficulty of its realization and the seriousness of the situation. Forty percent of junior college and training school instructors answered that the curriculum changes were not necessary in kindergarten and nursery teacher training courses. Opinions on the curriculum changes vary greatly from one educational institution to another. A large number of the training school instructors pointed out that the aim of training was different between kindergarten teachers and nursery teachers. Many of the respondents answered that it was necessary to create a new system of teaching certificate or qualification to fit the unification. The results show a sharp difference in understanding of the unification issue between kindergarten teachers and nursery teachers. The recognition also varies among instructors of kindergarten and nursery teacher training schools. It suggests the necessity to discuss the issue of unification more thoroughly from the viewpoint of securing a higher quality early childhood development.
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