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The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, accompanied by the Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, visited a kindergarten in Eastern District this afternoon (May 26) to learn more about the daily operation of the school.
The kindergarten, which is non-profit-making, offers nursery (K1), lower kindergarten (K2) and upper kindergarten (K3) classes. In addition to offering AM and PM sessions, the school enrols students in whole-day sessions based on their parents' needs.
The Chief Executive visited different classes to observe students participating in various kinds of learning activities. He was briefed by the school supervisor, the principal and senior teachers on the teaching and operation of the kindergarten.
Mr Leung noted that the kindergarten offers a wide range of services that suit the different needs of parents. Students can enjoy fee subsidy through the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme.
Mr Leung stressed that the Government attaches great importance to kindergarten education. The recurrent expenditure on kindergarten education has been increased by 46 per cent from $2.8 billion in 2012-13 to an estimated $4.1 billion in the current fiscal year.
"The Committee on Free Kindergarten Education was established by the current-term Government in April 2013 to look into the practicable implementation of free kindergarten education while maintaining both the flexibility of the kindergarten sector and the provision of diversified kindergarten services for parents," the Chief Executive said.
Mr Leung pointed out that while the Committee has an emerging consensus that free kindergarten education should cover half-day services as basic provision for all eligible children, it acknowledges that some families may need whole-day or long whole-day services. The Committee also considers that the provision should only cover the basic expenses directly attributable to children's learning and school operation in order to ensure the proper use of public resources and a sustainable development of the system.
"I understand that the Committee will soon submit a report to the Secretary for Education recommending the direction for the implementation of free kindergarten education. The Government will follow up and study in detail how to take it forward. I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Committee Chairman, Dr Moses Cheng, and members for their hard work in the past two years," Mr Leung said.
Ends/Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:52
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