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The Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, today (September 25) visited a kindergarten in Yau Ma Tei to see for himself its learning activities and hygiene conditions in the new academic year.
Mr Ng was briefed by the kindergarten supervisor, Ms Kay Wu, on the daily operation of the school. He then toured the school's various facilities and listened to the teachers and students talk about their joyful campus life.
Mr Ng said, "Pre-school education is an important milestone for children. In this connection, we have made every effort to render assistance to them as well as their parents. In the 2012/13 academic year, we have increased the Pre-primary Education Voucher subsidy to $16,800 per student per annum.
"The Education Bureau (EDB) also strives to enhance teachers' professional development and the quality of kindergartens, as well as their transparency and the dissemination of useful information to parents.
"Since early childhood is the beginning of learning personal hygiene, kindergartens should attach great importance to environmental hygiene and health education in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases on their campuses," he added.
"The EDB has all along maintained a close liaison with the Centre for Health Protection and conveyed timely health-related information across to schools. We have also issued letters and guidelines on specific infectious diseases to assist them in taking preventive and follow-up measures, as appropriate."
Mr Ng said that the concerted efforts of the Government, schools and parents in providing children with care and education would help them learn pleasurably and grow up healthily.
Ends/Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:25
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