Chapter 3
Assessment of Demand
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Assessment of demand for child care centres and kindergartens
3.1
In 1959-60 there were only 150 subvented day time child care centre places but by September 1979 the number of such subvented places had risen to 9,572, out of a total of about 10,996 subvented child care centre places of all types.
3.2
The growth in the number of private child care centre places has been very limited. There were about 1,500 private places before the enactment of the Child Care Centres Ordinance in 1975 and by September 1979 this sector was only providing about 3,200 places including playgroup places. (The total number of child care centre places available at September 1979 is given in Appendix 3A.)
3.3
In 1971 approximately 56% of children aged 4-5 were attending kindergarten and only 14% of children aged 3. By September 1979, the percentage of 3 year-old children attending kindergartens was 55.5%, of 4 year-olds was 84.3% and of 5-year olds was 87.7%. (Appendix 3B shows the number of kindergarten places at September 1979 and the distribution of kindergarten enrolment by age and by type of school.)
3.4
It is believed that the increasing attendance at child care centres and kindergartens is due to two principal factors. The first is a general belief that pre-primary education is essential to gaining entry to a popular primary school. The second is related to economic and social changes. In particular opportunities for employment have increased significantly for women over the last two decades. With the expansion of the economy it is now common for women to continue to work after marriage and childbirth. Where several generations lived under one roof, it was possible for the working mother to obtain help from other family members in looking after her children. Nowadays, young couples tend to set up their own homes upon marriage and though they still turn to their parents for assistance, this help cannot be provided as conveniently when they live in separate homes. The expansion of primary and secondary education and compulsory school attendance have also meant that children who had previously stayed at home to look after younger brothers and sisters now have less time to do so.
3.5
It is not possible to draw conclusions on the need for child care services and kindergarten places on the basis of past enrolment trends as the demand for the former has been largely regulated by the level of provision available in the subvented sector. There is always a waiting list of children wanting to be admitted into subvented child care centres. Comparison with other countries has not been useful in view of the lack of any uniform practice.
Sample survey
3.6
In order therefore to assess the demand for child care services and kindergarten facilities, the Government carried out a sample survey of families
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