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WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1982
GOOD COORDINATION IN PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION AND SERVICES
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THERE IS ALREADY A HIGH DEGREE OF COORDINATION AMONG THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED WITH PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION AND SERVICES, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON COLVYN HAYE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR HAYE WAS REPLYING TO THE REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT WHO ASKED HOW THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BETTER COORDINATE THE EDUCATION SERVICES PROVIDED BY CHILD-CARE CENTRES AND KINDERGARTENS ESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF THE REVISED ARRANGEMENTS TO BE IN EFFECT THIS SEPTEMBER.
MR HAYE SA1D A STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY A SENIOR OFFICIAL OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED IN JULY 1981 FOLLOWING THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES. THIS COMMITTEE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE WORK OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN THE CARE AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN IN CHILD CARE CENTRES AND KINDERGARTENS.
*THE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO MEET AS LONG AS IT IS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSALS OF THE 1981 WHITE PAPER,+ HE NOTED.
AS TO THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COMING SEPTEMBER, MR HAYE SAID THE STANDING COMMITTEE HAD BEEN DEVOTING SPECIFIC ATTENTION TO THE PHASING IN OF THE AGE OF ENTRY FOR KINDERGARTENS, ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SO-CALLED BABY CLASSES, FEE ASSISTANCE, RENT REIMBURSEMENT, THE TRAINING OF STAFF AND THE BASIC EQUIPMENT FOR KINDERGARTENS.
A NUMBER OF INFORMATION CIRCULARS HAD ALREADY BEEN ISSUED TO SPECIFY THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS COVERED BY THE WHITE PAPER, AND THERE WOULD BE MORE, HE ADDED.
HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN FORMAL AND INFORMAL MEETINGS WITH THE OPERATORS OF CHILD CARE CENTRES AND KINDERGARTENS AND THEY SHOULD SOON BE IN NO DOUBT AS TO WHAT WAS REQUIRED OF THEM BY THIS SEPTEMBER AND IN THE INTERIM PERIOD BETWEEN THEN AND SEPTEMBER 1985, WHEN THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE WHITE PAPER WERE EXPECTED TO BE ENFORCED.
THE ESSENCE OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE CONSULTATION, PUBLICITY AND FLEXIBILITY, HE SAID.
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