“The decision to leave didn't come overnight” – A discourse analysis of early childhood education teachers’ turnover
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The turnover of early childhood education (ECE) teachers has gained global attention, as the absence of stable and qualified staff challenges the continuity and quality of early childhood education and care. This study examines how former ECE teachers in Finland discursively constructed their turnover decisions. Data were collected through an online survey and analysed using discourse analysis of open-ended responses. The findings show that former ECE teachers accounted for their turnover by constructing a view of Finnish early childhood education, and more broadly Finnish working life, in which unresolved frustration, and ethical strain undermined the sustainability of a calling. When organizational conditions no longer allowed teachers to enact their moral values, turnover was legitimised as a rational and morally grounded decision. These findings highlight how organizational and societal conditions shape the moral viability of retention in early childhood education and provide insights for policymakers, teacher educators, and organizations aiming to reduce avoidable turnover through structural and ethical reforms.
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7214934628