Kindergarten Education Curriculum Guide launched to foster children's whole-person development (with photo)
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     In line with the implementation of the free quality kindergarten education policy, the Education Bureau (EDB) today (February 27) announced the details of the Kindergarten Education Curriculum Guide (KGECG) as a heightening step for emphasising the direction of children's whole-person development.

     An EDB spokesperson said that the Curriculum Development Council has given due consideration to the aims of kindergarten education as stipulated in the Report of the Committee on Free Kindergarten Education and feedback collected from stakeholders concerned through extensive consultation in the process of reviewing and revising the Guide to the Pre-primary Curriculum (2006). Based on the committed efforts, experiences gained and achievements of local kindergartens over the years as well as children's developmental and learning characteristics, further fine-tuning has been made for the curriculum.

     The key emphases of the KGECG are:

* continuing the built-up strengths of past development and good practices of kindergartens;
* sustaining the direction of nurturing children's whole-person development;
* designing a school-based curriculum with reference to children's growth and development characteristics;
* emphasising moral development of children;
* adopting learning through play and free exploration in play as major learning activities to inculcate a love to learn among children;
* enhancing catering for children's diversity and providing an ideal and inclusive learning environment; and
* promoting the interface between kindergartens and primary schools by enlisting concrete recommendations for different stakeholders.

     The spokesperson said, "Based on the school context of curriculum development, reviews of school resources, strengths and children's needs, kindergartens could implement the recommendations made in the enhanced curriculum progressively starting from the 2017/18 school year for provision of appropriate and valuable learning experiences to children."

     Pursuant to the launch of the curriculum, the EDB will organise briefing sessions for stakeholders of kindergartens, primary schools, school sponsoring bodies and tertiary institutions to deepen their understanding of the KGECG. A series of professional development programmes will also be arranged for kindergarten teachers to enhance their pedagogical skills.

     Noting that support of parents and the community would help in promoting quality kindergarten education, the EDB will also organise related briefing sessions and distribute pamphlets to parents so as to enhance their understanding of the aims of kindergarten education. A series of parent education video clips on themes including "Joyful and Balanced Development for Young Children Education", "Moral Development", "Learning Through Play", "Language Learning", "Interface Between Kindergarten and Primary Schools" and "Building an Inclusive Culture" are also produced by the EDB with an aim of deepening parents' understanding of kindergarten education, soliciting their co-operation and concerted efforts for providing quality learning experiences to young children. The video clips will be uploaded to the Internet in stages starting from early March.

     The Kindergarten Education Curriculum Guide has been uploaded to the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/tc/curriculum-development/major-level-of-edu/preprimary/KGECG2017_c.pdf). Only the Chinese version is provided for the time being.
 

Ends/Monday, February 27, 2017
Issued at HKT 14:55

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