WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1983
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KINDERGARTEN BILL ON NURSERY CLASSES
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AN AMENDMENT BILL WHICH PROPOSES TO ALLOW KINDERGARTENS TO OPERATE NURSERY CLASSES FROM SEPTEMBER 1985 WITHOUT DUAL REGISTRATION UNDER TWO ORDINANCES AND OPERATED BY TWO SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON COLVYN HAYE, SAID THAT NURSERY CLASSES DEFINED UNDER THE BILL WILL CATER FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF THREE AND THREE YEARS EIGHT MONTHS.
MR HAYE EXPLAINED THAT THE EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, WHICH WAS DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST JUNE, REQUIRED OPERATORS OF KINDERGARTENS WITH NURSERY CLASSES FOR CHILDREN UNDER THREE YEARS EIGHT MONTHS OF AGE TO REGISTER THESE CLASSES UNDER THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE.
BUT AFTER CONSULTATION WITH KINDERGARTEN OPERATORS, THE GOVERNMENT CONCLUDED THAT REGISTRATION OF PART OF THE PREMISES OF A KINDERGARTEN UNDER THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE WOULD BE IMPRACTICABLE FOR MANY KINDERGARTEN OPERATORS AND WOULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS REDUCTION OF A VALUABLE SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, HE SAID.
TO ENSURE THAT THE NURSERY CLASSES WILL BE OPERATED TO HIGH STANDARDS, THE BILL AND AMENDED EDUCATION REGULATIONS WILL REQUIRE NURSERY CLASSES TO EMPLOY QUALIFIED PRINCIPALS AND TO IMPROVE SPACE REQUIREMENTS AND CLASS SIZE.
THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE BROUGHT INTO EFFECT IN SEPTEMBER, 1986, MR HAYE SAID.
SIMILAR PROVISIONS COVER FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN SCHOOLS, HE ADDED.
THE BILL, IF ENACTED, WILL NOT ONLY RELIEVE THE UNEASE AMONG MANY KINDERGARTEN OPERATORS, BUT ALSO PROVIDE A MORE FLEXIBLE AND PRACTICABLE APPROACH TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1981 WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES, HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO JULY 13.
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