**********************************************

    The electronic version of the Profile of Kindergartens for the 2004-05 school year, which provides detailed information on all kindergartens, is available starting today (August 5) via the home pages of the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) and the Committee on Home-School Co-operation (CHSC).

    Parents can access the Profile on the EMB or CHSC websites (http://www.emb.gov.hk or http://embhsc.hkedcity.net).

    To provide parents with essential information for making choices of kindergartens, the Profile has been published jointly by the CHSC and the EMB since 2000.

    For the sake of conciseness, only information provided by the EMB will be included in the Profile. Linkages to information on "Quality Assurance Inspection (QAI) Summary Reports" and "Good Practices on Pre-primary Education" will also be provided to enable parents to share the latest information on the development of kindergarten education.  

    Meanwhile, there will also be indication on individual kindergartens' participation in the Kindergarten Subsidy Scheme.

    Starting from August 18, hardcopies of the profile will be available at EMB's Regional Education Offices, Department of Health's Maternal and Child Health Centres and Social Welfare Department's Family Services Centres for reference by those who have no access to the electronic version.

Ends/Friday, August 5, 2005

NNNN