THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1995
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CHILD CARE SERVICE EXPANDS TO MEET DEMAND
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ABOUT 25 000 CHILDREN ARE AT PRESENT BEING CARED FOR IN SOME 250 CHILD CARE CENTRES AND MORE THAN 60 PER CENT OF THOSE IN AIDED CENTRES ARE RECEIVING FEE ASSISTANCE, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR LAW CHI-KIN, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE FOURTH CHILD CARE CERTIFICATE COURSE OF LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, MR LAW SAID THE NUMBER OF CHILD CARE CENTRES AND PLACES WAS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
THIS WOULD HELP MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR CHILD CARE SERVICE BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE INCREASING NUMBER OF WORKING MOTHERS.
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OUTLINING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD CARE SERVICES OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, MR LAW NOTED THAT GOVERNMENT'S DIRECT SUBSIDIES TO CHILD CARE CENTRES CATERING FOR CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES BEGAN IN THE 1960S.
+BY 1975, THE SERVICE HAD DEVELOPED SO EXTENSIVELY THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO REGULATE ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE ENACTMENT OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE AND THE SETTING UP OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ADVISORY INSPECTORATE.
+ THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE SERVICE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP OPERATORS TO PROVIDE AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD OF SERVICE FOR THE YOUNG CHILDREN UNDER CARE. + HE SAID.
THE SERVICE WAS EXPANDED IN 1978 TO INCLUDE THE MILDLY DISABLED CHILDREN IN AN INTEGRATED PROGRAMME SO THAT THEY COULD GROW UP IN A NORMAL ENVIRONMENT.
IN 1982 THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME WAS IMPLEMENTED TO ENSURE THAT CHILD CARE SERVICE WAS AVAILABLE TO ALL FAMILIES IN NEED AND THAT PARENTS PAID FOR THE SERVICE ACCORDING TO THEIR INCOME.
MR LAW ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO CHILD CARE WORKERS WHO HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE SERVICE THROUGH THEIR DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS.
HE TOLD THE GRADUATES THAT THEY WOULD NOT ONLY BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND TO THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILDREN BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE THE STIMULATION AND EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD PROMOTE THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL GROWTH,
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