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SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1982
GOVERNMENT'S DAY NURSERY HELP PLAN EXPLAINED
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THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES TO BE INTRODUCED IN SEPTEMBER IS INTENDED TO EXPRESS CLEARLY THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO MAKING DAY NURSERY PLACES AVAILABLE TO THOSE FAMILIES WHICH NEED THE SERVICE, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE'S SHEK KIP MEI DAY CARE CENTRE, HE SAID THAT UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, THE TAXPAYER WOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO MEET THE BILL FOR THOSE WHO CAN AND SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO PAY THE FULL COST OF A DAY NURSERY PLACE.
FEES IN DAY NURSERIES WOULD THEREFORE APPEAR TO RISE VERY SHARPLY IN SEPTEMBER BECAUSE THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE SUBSIDISED, IN A GENERAL WAY, BY THE TAXPAYER.
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+HOWEVER, MR ALLEYNE SAID, IN MOST CASES THE ACTUAL FEE PAID BY PARENTS WILL NOT BE HIGHER THAN THEY WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO PAY UNDER THE PRESENT SUBVENTION SYSTEM.
+ON THE CONTRARY, VERY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES MAY EXPECT TO PAY RELATIVELY LESS THAN UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE INTRODUCTION OF A SLIDING SCALE OF ASSISTANCE TO PARENTS TO MEET THE FEES WHICH DAY NURSERIES WILL HAVE TO CHARGE, HE SAID.
HE SAID THE SCHEME WOULD ALSO BE OPEN TO PARENTS SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO KINDERGARTENS, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ESTABLISH A SOCIAL NEED TO PLACE THEIR CHILDREN IN FULL DAY CARE AS WELL AS FALL WITHIN THE OVERALL INCOME ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
HE NOTED THAT SOME SOCIAL WORKERS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FEARED THAT THE PROCEDURES INVOLVED IN APPLYING FOR FEE ASSISTANCE MIGHT DISCOURAGE LESS RESPONSIBLE PARENTS FROM APPLYING FOR HELP AND INSTEAD FALLING BACK ON LESS SATISFACTORY MEANS OF PROVIDING DAY CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
MR ALLEYNE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT THE NEW SCHEME, ONCE IT IS UNDERSTOOD BY THE PARENTS, WILL BE WELL ACCEPTED BY" THEM. +
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WOULD ADMINISTER THE SCHEME, WAS DETERMINED TO ENSURE THAT APPLICATION PROCEDURES ARE KEPT AS SIMPLE AND NON-IRKSOME AS POSSIBLE.+
FAMILIES WHO WISH TO APPLY FOR FEE ASSISTANCE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO AT ANY OF THE SWD'S SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
/APPLICANTS WILL