The School Environment of Kindergartens in Iraq: A Field study in Qalat Sukkar City

Abstract

Creating an ideal and suitable environment for child development in kindergarten is a crucial topic. The physical environment and architectural components are key factors in shaping this ideal environment. Many studies have highlighted the importance of providing a healthy, safe, and attractive physical environment that fosters the holistic development of a child's skills and abilities. During our visits to kindergartens in the city, we observed a significant gap between the theoretical standards for designing an ideal physical environment and the actual conditions in kindergarten buildings. These buildings suffer from numerous problems, including non-compliance with planning standards, cramped spaces, inadequate lighting and ventilation, electrical hazards, and a lack of facilities and equipment necessary for children's activities, including proper classroom and restroom design, and insufficient maintenance.

The researchers believe it is essential to study this gap from the perspective of kindergarten directors, as they are closest to experiencing the realities of the physical environment and the challenges of creating a suitable environment for children within kindergarten buildings. Therefore, we used a questionnaire to gather the opinions of kindergarten directors and compare them with local planning standards.  Its comparison revealed that it was inefficient in terms of the space as a building, the dimensions of the classrooms, the average number of students per classroom, and the absence of a school shop in kindergartens except in one private kindergarten only.