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The Secretary for Education (SED), Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, met with parents of the Topkids Anglo-Chinese Kindergarten in Yuen Long at a briefing session organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) this evening (April 17).
Mr Ng said, "I fully understand that Topkids' closure plan, after its failure to renew the tenancy agreement with the landlord of its school premises, has caused anxiety to parents. I have requested EDB staff to render full support to the affected students and their parents, and take good care of the children's educational needs in the upcoming academic year. I have earlier shared our support services with the Chairman of the Yuen Long District Council, Mr Leung Che-cheung, and other legislators who expressed concern over the incident."
He added, "The EDB has been in liaison with the kindergartens in Yuen Long, calling on them to decide on their class structure for the next academic year and update their vacancy information as soon as possible. The bureau is also gauging their views on the setting up of an online platform for disseminating vacancy information to parents in due course. If a consensus can be reached, parents will be informed accordingly."
Like other private independent kindergartens, Topkids has all along been run in privately owned premises. The EDB understands that Topkids is considering looking for other premises in a bid to continue its operation. In this connection, the bureau has provided Topkids with some information on premises suitable for operating a kindergarten as well as the locations of some kindergartens closed in recent years upon its headmistress' special request.
Upon receiving Topkids' notification of its closure plan, the EDB has been in close contact with the kindergarten to render assistance in dealing with the aftermath. The Under Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, met with its headmistress and some parent representatives on April 9. Officers from the Yuen Long District School Development Section and the Joint Office for Kindergartens and Child Care Centres further met and briefed the headmistress on the bureau's support services on April 11.
Parents of the students affected by the Topkids incident can call 3107 2197 during office hours in case they need further assistance.
Ends/Thursday, April 17, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:20
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