Competencias profesionales en la Educación Inicial y su vínculo con la vocación y la formación ética

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the professional competencies of early childhood educators, their calling to teaching, and their ethical training, within the framework of Ecuador s Prioritized Curriculum. To this end, an innovative pedagogical proposal was designed to enhance teaching practice. This study employed a mixed-methods approach, using a non-experimental, cross-sectional design that integrated quantitative and qualitative techniques to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon under study. Data were collected through structured questionnaires using a Likert scale and semi-structured interviews administered to early childhood education teachers at schools within Ecuador s public education system. The results showed that the participating teachers have a favorable perception of the development of their professional competencies, specifically in the areas of communication, logical-mathematical skills, digital literacy, social-emotional skills, and pedagogical innovation. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that a calling to teaching and ethical training are factors that strengthen teaching performance and foster pedagogical decision-making, as well as holistic development in early childhood.