Parental Views and Determinants Shaping Early Childhood Care and Education in Kandy, Sri Lanka: An Analysis of Factors Influencing Parental Decision Making

• DOI: 10.4038/joth.v1i1.2
• Publication Date: 2025-04-23T14:49:30Z
• Authors: Samidi Navaratna; Upul Senarath
• Keywords: Sri lanka

Introduction: The concept of early childhood care and education (ECCE), increasingly acknowledges the importance fostering strong relationships between families ECCE services as a potent means to enhance children's educational, health, overall well-being outcomes. This study aimed explore parental perspectives on childcare in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Methods: As part larger study, cross-sectional descriptive with an analytical component was conducted 20 preschools daycare facilities within Kandy Municipal Council using stratified random sampling. A sample 484 parents selected simple sampling proportion number registered children centres. Centre quality evaluated Revised Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS-R). parents’ were explored structured questionnaire. Childcare quality, rated 1.00 7.00 scale, categorised inadequate, minimal, or good. Parental satisfaction simplified into two categories for analysis. Relationships socio-demographic factors examined chi-square test. Results: kindness staff, attention child receives, training/ staff recognised important by more than 97% parents. Parent significantly low less three years old, employed mothers, family income, Tamil Muslim ethnicity. Conclusion: State employer-funded good at affordable fee is defensible future taking consideration advantage development disease management.