****************************************
The Education Bureau (EDB) released the "Profile of Kindergartens and Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres 2008" today (September 8) on the web.
"To enhance the transparency of kindergartens as expected by parents and pledged by the Government in implementing the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme (PEVS), we have sought to provide more essential information to help parents choose kindergartens for their children," an EDB spokesman said.
"The Profile covers information on about 970 kindergartens and kindergarten-cum-child care centres, including a list of non-profit-making kindergartens joining PEVS and private independent kindergartens joining PEVS in the remaining two years in the 2008/09 school year in each district. The Profile also shows the approved school fees of kindergartens for the 2008/09 school year."
The spokesman pointed out that for kindergartens joining PEVS, their approved school fees after redemption of voucher are also shown. Other information includes the number of teaching staff, professional qualifications of the principal and teachers, enrolment statistics, teacher-to-pupil ratio and details of teaching and learning information of individual kindergartens as well as other charges they may collect."
The spokesman added, "All kindergartens joining PEVS are required to disclose information on their application of funds in various expenditure areas, in addition to other essential operational and curriculum details. This can reveal the way the kindergartens have made use of their resources for teachers and students, which is a matter of concern to parents."
"All kindergartens joining PEVS are required to undergo the Quality Review (QR) for quality assurance purposes. The QR has started to roll out in the 2007/08 school year to kindergartens selected on a random basis. For kindergartens whose entire QR process has been completed, information on whether they have met the prescribed standards is indicated in the Profile and the linkage is provided to the QR Report if ready."
Information on "Good Practices" and summary reports on "Quality Assurance Inspection" conducted in the past five years are also provided in the e-version of the Profile at http://chsc.edb.hkedcity.net/kindergarten/ for parents' reference.
Printed copies of the Profile will be available for parents' reference from October 15 at the Regional Education Offices of the EDB, Public Enquiry Service Centres of the Home Affairs Department, Maternal and Child Health Centres of the Department of Health and Integrated Family Service Centres of the Social Welfare Department. The Profile will also be placed at public libraries for parents' reference from October 24.
Ends/Monday, September 8, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:29
NNNN
