chapter 1

Chapter 1 - General Introduction

1.1 Background

Human development is very important because of its active ingredient roll in the community in terms of being a critical resource for the overall development of the state. Man is the mastermind who solves problems of the present and plan the successful drawing policies for the future. While the child is the first step in the stages of the lifespan, he must have the enough  care and attention, because he needs other requirements which are necessary for his upbringing and nurtured properly.

 The social and educational studies have confirmed that concern for children should begin in the early years of his life, because it is the first rule for the child thinking and his social composition. kindergartens are the base for all levels of education in the future, because the child receives a group of necessary cognitive science for mental thinking which acquires him the expertise to evaluate his behavior. It is also the stage that gives the child ready for school. Many studies proved that children who entered kindergarten have greater speed in learning and find no difficulty in primary school (Mordan,2008).

In view of the local realities in which children live, it is noticed  that the Palestinian society live in hard political, economic and social conditions and suffer from apparent lack of services and declination in the level of education (Masri, 2011). This situations are reflected on the educational buildings in the Gaza Strip, including the kindergartens. " studies indicated that children kindergartens in Gaza Strip have the exceptional circumstances and lack of the minimum specifications of kindergarten criteria. Many kindergartens have been established at houses not allocated mainly for this purpose. They suffer from severe  shortage of educational, recreational and health services (Bseiso,2000).  This situation is reflected negatively on the slide of children which need  a necessary care, whether at the level of the educational environment or at the level of recreational services. Therefore, it is necessary to consider this problem and know its dimensions to search for appropriate solutions in order to create a suitable environment for the child in Gaza Strip. This study attempts to find architectural solutions of kindergarten buildings in order to improve the architectural design for a set of its elements such as internal spaces and outdoors. The research includes several alternatives for different designs to study, compare and analyze according to planning and designing criteria which are compared with global case studies. The research access to a range of mechanisms and strategies for improving the architectural design of kindergartens in the Gaza Strip.

1.2 Study Limits

Territory, southeastern Mediterranean Sea coast. Area: (365 sq. km). Population: (2011 est.) 1,574,000.The region lies northeast of the Sinai Peninsula and is also the location of the city of Gaza, which has been a prosperous trading center for much of its history. The territory takes its name from Gaza, its main city.  (Ministry of Local Government,2011). Figure (1.1) displays the map of Gaza strip.

Figure (1.1) Map of Gaza Strip  Source – (Ministry of Local Government,2011)

This study was conducted in 2011 which coincided with the fact the blockade of the Gaza Strip, imposed by the Israeli occupation about  three years after the war on Gaza Strip. The study was limited with kindergarten buildings in the Gaza Strip, especially the region of Al- Sheik Ridwan area.

1.3 Problem Statement

During the field visits to a group of kindergarten  buildings in Gaza Strip, it was found that a large proportion of them suffer from a clear shortage in its architectural design. They  are often not appropriate to the needs of child and are not equipped as required and in most cases, lacks the facilities and entertainment services.

1.4 The Research Hypothesis:

Development of the environment surrounding children and raise them to the required level - through the improvement of architectural design - will improve the educational and entertainment  environment for kindergartens in the Gaza Strip. And will thus help in the development of the child mental capacities, provide him with different skills and  assist in educational attainment.

1.5 Research Objectives:

The research aims to gain access to new mechanisms and strategies to improve the architectural design for the enhancement and upgrading of the premises of kindergartens in the Gaza Strip, from which to improve the environment surrounding children, provide the appropriate atmosphere and the necessary care for the child. This study will provide design ideas to improve the internal and external environment that ensures the quality of education and entertainment for children of kindergartens.

Other Sub-Goals Can Be Summarized As:

-        Identifying  the current situations  of kindergarten  buildings in Gaza Strip.

-        Helping  the child to interact  within the environment of the kindergarten and     define the role of effective  architectural design in achieving this.

-        Access to a set of strategies and  mechanisms to deal with the status of kindergartens in Gaza Strip and try to improve them.

-        Presenting a range of architectural designs of kindergartens  that can be a model reference when designing similar buildings. -        knowledge which is necessary for pre- school children.

1.6 The Importance of the Research:

 The importance of the study comes from the fact that it provides solutions proposed for many problems in the premises of kindergartens in Gaza Strip, particularly as these facilities need some planning and design standards and requirements.

Also, this study is important in terms to submit proposals, ideas and architectural solutions in realistic and local view, where the Palestinian community live in special situations which need appropriated submission proposals. This study represents an important reference for researchers, designers, interested people in children fields.

1.7 Research Questions:

 •The first question: What are the current conditions of the premises of kindergartens in the Gaza Strip?

This question  will be the answered  in the folds of the third chapter of the study and it can be identified:

-        The status of kindergarten in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of building design and its relevance to the functions and special needs  of children.

-        Education quality and efficiency of teaching methods and the appropriateness of architectural space and interior design for this purpose.

-        The current status of  recreational activities and the availability of playgrounds units including  the planning and coordination of the site.

-        The availability of extracurricular halls such as chambers of games, music and arts (if design standards and requirements of children are considered).

• The second question: What is the role of architectural design in improving the learning  and entertainment environment for kindergarten?

This subject will be included  in Chapter II of the study, and through the answer of this question many goals can be achieved :

-        Planning and landscaping of kindergartens site in better way. This include good site selection, proper guidance and landscaping of outdoor Gardens.

-        Effective architectural spaces design and good choice of relations among them to meet the needs of children.

-        Improvement of child's learning through a range of design solutions in the coordination of internal walls, the design of teaching aids and arranging furniture in the interior spaces.

-        determining the impact of improving the architectural design at children behavior and activity in the kindergarten

• The third question: What are the strategies and mechanisms that can help in improving the architectural design of the premises of kindergartens in the Gaza Strip.
This question is the objective of the study can be answered through the fourth quarter. It includes range of ideas and design proposals and standards for the architectural spaces design in the kindergarten, such as:

-        Classroom Halls.

-        Halls of extracurricular activities.

-        systems of open zonings and corners.

-        children's libraries.

-        playgrounds and open spaces.

1.8 The Research Methodology:

The research relied on a systematic and clear method of the scientific research methodologies. It is the analytical and descriptive Methodology, which depends on collecting information about the problem in order to pinpoint, analyze  and then reproduce the results which can be generalized. This has been done through surveys , field visits and interviews in order to access the current situation to a group of children buildings in the Gaza Strip, then performing analytical studies of these samples to find out the shortcomings and try to reach good solutions through a range of proposals aimed to enhance the development of current situations.

The research relied on the distributions of many questionnaires on a sample of  kindergartens all over the Gaza strip provinces  which represents about 24.5% of licensed kindergartens in Gaza strip. The questionnaire include many questions and inquire main topics related on the architectural situations of kindergartens such as site plan analysis, interior spaces,  exterior environment and site coordination. The questionnaire also include the assessment  of kindergartens finishing for ceilings, walls, and floors which lead to estimate the availability and quality of furnishing in the interior spaces.

There have been several questions  in folds of the questionnaire, including what is specific to managers of kindergartens to determine their problems and constraints they face and to know the goals and ambitions that are looking for. Other questionnaires seek for teachers in the kindergarten to see their requirements and interaction within and outside the classroom. Many questions focus on the children in kindergartens - which is the study sample - to determine their satisfaction and acceptance of the surrounding environment, to identify their wishes and directions, and to read their intelligence and thinking, in order to access the appropriate architectural design that meets their requirements.

The outputs of the questionnaire have been proved by the analytical study for a  neighborhood in Al-Shiek Redwan with estimated area of 2.855 km square. To evaluate the architectural situations of kindergartens at this neighborhood, 3 kindergartens have been analyzed in terms of site plan, building area, orientation and accurate description of kindergarten's schematics. The research include a comparison among these kindergartens according to the Palestinian terms at the ministry of education.

A set of proposals, alternatives and design ideas have been developed to solve the problem. These will then be evaluated, compared and verified in several ways including computer programs, and questionnaires aimed many directors of kindergartens.

The study also depend on similar buildings as case studies to take advantages of their planning and design approach. According to the analytical study for these cases, evaluation and comparison with local buildings, a set of mechanisms and strategies have been  promoted   in order to improve the architectural design of kindergartens in Gaza Strip.

1.9 The Previous Studies:

There are many studies in this area. Some of  local studies are focusing on the current situations of kindergartens in Gaza Strip, and offer a range of solutions and ideas. Others are Arabian Studies conducted on children in Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to access some mechanisms for children intelligence measurement and mental development in order to improve the learning environment .

The main notice of these studies that the child is the subject of researches which respect the psychological, social and other similar fields, without raising too often to study of the architectural environment and the surrounding area. But there is a group of specialized foreign studies which presenting the matter from other angles as good case studies. These researches are addressed in the analysis of architectural elements necessary for the educational and recreational environment in kindergarten.

These studies helped to select the chapters in this research. The educational studies are important to understand a good view of the nature and behavior of the child in order to find out his requirements and needs. This will determine the nature of his movement and knowledge, his hobbies and orientations, that have been offered in the first chapters of the research. In other point of view, case studies give more advantages of the global knowledge for the design and planning criteria that must be taken in mind for kindergartens design. Then statistics and local studies were very important to know the indicators and figures that can develop strategies and mechanisms to provide ideas and architectural solutions accordingly.

A set of these studies can be listed as:

1- (ANERA , 2006 )  - American Near East Refugee Aid - Evaluation study of the quality of education of kindergartens in Gaza Strip - published search - The Islamic university magazine. 

In this study produce a good evaluation of the quality of education in kindergartens which proved that there are a real problem in many fields. The researcher distributed many questionnaires to 54 kindergartens in many provinces  of Gaza strip. The study aimed different subjects  such as the headmasters, the books, the teachers and the environment of these kindergartens. The study found that there is a need for various improvements in the domain of curriculum, teacher's qualifications, educational materials, and parents participation. The study found that preschools use a traditional classroom-based approach. As for teacher's qualifications, the study considered that all teachers and holders of general Secondary Certificate and that one third of them are equipped with University degrees. Educational materials were found to be inadequate in preschools and parents participation was found to be limited. According to principals and teachers there are many obstacles, most challenging and inadequate experience in the field of early childhood education.

2- (UNICEF, 2011)  Report on needs assessment for kindergartens in the Gaza strip.

This study was conducted by Ministry of Education and Higher Education with financial support from UNICEF. The study examined four main aspects of early childhood education, the educators, children's learning, kindergartens environment and the family- kindergarten relationship. In addition, it also defines the obstacles and challenges, from the perspective of kindergarten principals and educators, to provide the quality of early childhood education and to determine the needs assessment for kindergartens in Gaza strip. The study took place over the course of 6 months including the development of assessment tools, data collection and analysis. The quantitative and qualitative data collected by the Ministry of Education had been processed using a scientific and systematic methodology. The study built on the basis of all licensed kindergartens in Gaza strip. Data collection came from 3 main sources: kindergartens principals, kindergarten educators and families. The study outcomes indicated that there is real need for interventions in the areas of psychosocial support, qualification of educators , educational means, parental involvement.  

 3- (Mohammed  Alamaira, 2000) - kindergartens in Gaza strip between fact and ambition – published  Samed Journal magazine. 

This study aims to address the current situations of kindergartens in the Gaza Strip during the period 1990 – 1995  and clarify existing problems in kindergartens. The research fined that the vast majority of kindergartens in Gaza strip are not appropriate  for children education because of the shortage in services providing  in these buildings. The research aimed to study the demand on kindergartens in this period. As a result for distributed questioners, the percentage of the enrollment rate  indicates that there is an increasing demand comparing with the previous years. The research also study the situations of kindergartens at this period, then produce  future vision as an ambition  for development through a proposed program. The researcher study the situation of  kindergartens in two periods, the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Authority by.

4- ( Nadera  Bseiso, 1998)  – The problems of institutions of kindergartens in Gaza city – master studies – the Islamic university of Gaza.

This is a master study of the faculty of education in the Islamic University of Gaza – the research proved that there are an obvious lack of the facilities and services in kindergartens in Gaza city throughout many field visits and distributive questionnaires. The total number of kindergartens at this year were 97. The researcher distribute questionnaires on 25 kindergartens which present about 25% of the total number of kindergartens. There were several kinds of questionnaires which discussed the topics of health situations, building conditions, tools and equipment and teachers problems in these kindergartens. Then the researcher produced many recommendations to solve problems in this term.

5- ( Gary Moore, 1996 )  -  Designed Environments for Young Children: Empirical Findings and Implications for Planning and Design - Faculty of Architecture University of Sydney. 

The researcher recalls here to design criteria and planning for buildings of children, such as size, shape , direction of the building, its location and the need to coordinate the internal environment. He determine the types of spaces such as attention spaces, external and refers for a good coordination of the site in line with the needs of the child.

6- (Mohammed Suleiman, 2003 ) - Proposed strategies for the development of kindergarten in Palestine according to the concept of total quality management – published in the educational Magazine -  En shams university - vol. 29

This study seek the concept of total quality in education and how it can be applied to kindergartens, which  indicates that the application of the concept of total quality in education leads to the events of substantial results in the acquisition of basic science and improving the learning environment for children. The researcher refers to the quality of the environment surrounding the child as an important part of the concept of the total quality. The researcher study the impact of kindergartens spaces on the child behavior to improve the important role of the environment on the total quality in education. Then the researcher suggests a series of steps and mechanisms by which access to the overall quality of education in kindergartens.

7- (Mark Dudek , 2000 ) - architecture of schools and kindergartens : The new learning environments oxford - architectural press. 

This research is summarized on the architecture of educational buildings and indicates to design criteria and planning for improving the educational environment. The study includes the development of architectural elements of schools and kindergartens. It is also supported by many illustrations and case studies all over the world.

1.10  Study Outline

This research is divided into seven chapters:

The first chapter describes the plan of the research throughout general introduction  which includes the research problem , objectives , mythology and the study limitations. The second chapter discusses the childhood period of human life with more explanations about the stages of child growth, the importance of this stage , and characteristics of preschool children. This chapter also introduces the situation of Palestinian children and their needs according to the international human rights.

As the early childhood is an essential period for the child, it is important to give more attention to kindergarten buildings. So, the third chapter discusses the definition, the history, the importance  and the activities in kindergartens. It also  presents the kindergarten situation in Gaza strip. This gives clear vision about the physical status , shows the adequate to the preschool considerations and introduces general concept about its requirements.

Then the study moves to the architecture side of this topic. The fourth chapter give clear vision about  the environment of kindergartens which includes the interior space and the exterior open zones which have great impact on the child behavior. So, the architectural consideration and the urban criteria have been addressed.

The next chapter provides the research with field visits to the kindergartens that includes questionnaires describing the current architectural situations of kindergartens in Gaza strip. The last chapter produce some proposals and suggestions for kindergartens in Gaza strip.