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The Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur KC Li, was today (December 1) pleased to note the unanimous call from kindergarten organisations for the Government to seek funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council as soon as practicable, so that the education voucher scheme for the pre-primary sector could be implemented starting from the 2007 school year.
Professor Li made the remarks after meeting Ms Mary Tong Siu-fun, Chairperson of the Hong Kong Kindergarten Association and a dozen other members of the association to listen to their views on the Government's enhanced subsidy for the pre-primary sector. The Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Raymond Wong, also attended the meeting.
Participating kindergarten representatives agreed to the Government's five basic principles in subsiding the pre-primary sector, including the principle that only non-profit-making kindergartens may redeem education vouchers. This is to ensure that all public money will be spent on education.
Professor Li said, "Some kindergarten representatives indicated their wish to change the status of their kindergartens from private independent to non-profit making. We will lend them our full support."
The EMB will continue to meet representatives of other kindergarten organisations to listen to their views.
Ends/Friday, December 1, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:21
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