SED visits kindergarten preparing for Free Quality Kindergarten Education Scheme (with photos/video)
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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 kindergarten enrols students in whole-day sessions based on their parents' needs.
Accompanied by the Chairman and Chief School Supervisor of the Po Leung Kuk, Dr Eleanor Kwok, Mr Ng observed various induction activities arranged by the kindergarten, during which students could get to know each other better through games and learn more about their teachers and the kindergarten environment. Mr Ng also learnt from the kindergarten's principal and teachers about their preparation for implementing the new policy and listened to their views.
Mr Ng said, "The free quality kindergarten education policy represents a new milestone in the development of kindergarten education. Under the new policy, the Government will increase substantially the annual expenditure of kindergarten education from about $4.0 billion to about $6.7 billion in the 2017/18 school year. It is estimated that about 70 per cent to 80 per cent of half-day kindergarten places will be free. The kindergarten I visited today is an example.
"In addition, the Government will enhance the quality of kindergarten education through various measures, including improving the teacher-pupil ratio to 1:11 (principal not included), encouraging kindergartens to provide a career ladder and competitive remuneration to attract and retain talents, reviewing the Guide to the Pre-primary Curriculum, refining the Quality Assurance Framework, promoting continuous professional development of kindergarten principals and teachers, strengthening support to cater for students' diversity and enhancing the governance and transparency of kindergartens. In the long run, the Government will improve school premises and facilities, and study ways to increase the provision of kindergarten premises.
"From my recent exchanges with parent representatives, I am also pleased to note their view that the new policy could help relieve their financial burden and enable their children to enjoy quality kindergarten education. In fact, parents play a very important role in their children's early life and are their role models. Under the new policy, we wish to work together with parents in promoting healthy development of their children."
Dr Kwok welcomed the free quality kindergarten education policy and thanked the Government for conducting rounds of consultation to collect views from the kindergarten sector in working out the implementation details.
She said, "There are about 50 kindergartens (including kindergarten-cum-child care centres) under the Po Leung Kuk. It is estimated that around 90 per cent of those offering half-day services can be free under the new policy. The rest will reduce their school fees substantially with the benefit of the subsidy under the new policy."
She expressed the view that the highlight of the new policy is not only the subsidy but also enhancement in the quality of kindergarten education. She said that since kindergartens under the Po Leung Kuk have more long-serving teachers receiving higher salaries, the one-off tide-over grant will definitely help kindergartens handle transitional arrangements when implementing the new policy. She thanked the Education Bureau for agreeing to review the utilisation of funding to ensure smooth migration of kindergartens to the new policy as well as achievement of the objectives of the free quality kindergarten education policy.
Mr Ng said, "Today I am pleased to see a team of professional and passionate teachers and a group of lovely children who enjoy their learning. I have full confidence in our quality kindergarten education. I look forward to the continued support from both the kindergarten sector and parents. With concerted efforts, we will promote the sustainable development of quality kindergarten education and nurture talents for Hong Kong."
Ends/Monday, August 29, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:06
Issued at HKT 16:06
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