PARENTAL PERSPECTIVES ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN BANGLADESH

URL: http://www.ijbssr.com/10.55706/ijbssr12107

Parental perspectives play a crucial role in the implementation of Early Childhood Education (ECE), but there has been limited research on this subject within the context of Bangladesh. To understand how parents perceive this educational system, this study employed an exploratory descriptive qualitative approach. Using convenience sampling, 47 parents from three cities were selected for semi-structured interviews. Through thematic analysis, six key themes were identified: an emphasis on holistic development; cultural values ​​and aspirations for education; socio-economic challenges and barriers to access; positive perceptions regarding early intervention; a desire for communication and collaboration with educators; and balancing tradition with innovation. These themes not only reveal the complex nature of parental attitudes but also provide valuable insights for formulating policies and designing programs for ECE in Bangladesh. Parents want ECE would be affordable, respects culture, and treats them as partners. The sample size was small and urban centric, so the results should be viewed as transferable insights rather than generalized conclusions applicable at the national level.