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Following is a question asked by Dr Hon David Li and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

The Government has taken measures to raise the qualifications of kindergarten teachers and principals since 1996. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it will consider allocating more financial resources to promote pre-school education?

Reply:

Madam President,

The Government has all along been promoting the development of high quality kindergarten education. Although early childhood education is not part of nine-year free education, huge resources have been invested by Government each year in this area. Take 1999-2000 as an example, we have earmarked $139 million for the Kindergarten Subsidy Scheme to help kindergartens employ qualified teachers. We have also earmarked $454 million to help needy parents pay kindergarten school fees. In addition, the Government will continue to reimburse rent and rates to non-profit-making kindergartens and $183.8 million has been reserved in 1999-2000 for this purpose.

We will continue to enhance the quality of kindergarten education through upgrading the qualifications of kindergarten principals and teachers. We will require at least 50 per cent of teachers in kindergartens to be Qualified Kindergarten Teachers by September 1999 and at least 60 per cent by September 2000. We have also announced in this year's Policy Address that the target date of requiring all newly recruited kindergarten principals to have completed the Certificate in Kindergarten Education course will be advanced by two years.

We will continue to actively consider any proposals to raise the quality of pre-school education in future resource allocation exercises and in the light of other competing demands for additional resources.

End/Wednesday, November 3, 1999

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