Functioning of Preschool Educational Institutions under Pandemic Conditions

Abstract

This paper focuses on the issue of preschool education in a pandemic. The purpose of this study is to reveal the problems, which public preschool educational institutions (PEIs) may face during the pandemic period. Special emphasis is placed on the subject matter of the article, which is the activities of PEIs in a pandemic. The present research broaches such issues as the mode of functioning of PEIs, the organization of an educational process in PEIs, and the specific features of the activities of the PEI staff under quarantine conditions. To complete the study, the following methods have been employed: theoretical – analysis of psychological-pedagogical and methodological sources, review of educational designs and programs, educational and methodological complexes, and actual educational resources of PEIs; empirical – questionnaires, surveys, interviews, testing, direct and indirect observation, expert evaluation. The article explores the specificity of the activities of PEIs both under the conditions of distance functioning and under the conditions of normal activity, observing quarantine measures. It also reveals and analyses complications and difficulties in the work of the PEI staff, as well as inconveniences for children and parents. Furthermore, the study considers the measures aimed to eliminate the negative factors of distance learning and gives recommendations for the heads of preschool institutions on the peculiarities of their activities in a pandemic.