THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1986
CALL FOR ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO IMPROVE KINDERGARTENS
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GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER INTRODUCING A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME IN ORDER TO IMPROVE KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION, DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR HO SAID HE WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENTS HAD TAKEN PLACE IN THE QUALITY OF KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION BUT NOTED THAT THESE STILL FELL SHORT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES IN 1981 AND OF THE EXPECTATIONS OF EDUCATORS.
+AS I SEE IT, THE CARDINAL IMPEDIMENT TO THE KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION IS A DESPAIRING LACK OF TRAINED TEACHERS, HE SAID,
DR HO CITED THE FINDINGS OF A SURVEY IN 1983 ON THE TRAINING AND SALARIES OF KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS WHICH REVEALED THAT SOME 80 PER CENT DID NOT HAVE ANY FORM OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING WHILE 88 PER CENT HAD A MONTHLY SALARY LESS THAN HALF OF THOSE OF CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
+ IT IS LARGELY DUE TO THESE GLOOMY PROSPECTS OF THE KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION AS A PROFESSION THAT INTELLIGENT AND DEDICATED PERSONS ARE NOT ATTRACTED TO THIS SECTOR OF EDUCATION, HE SAID.
+FURTHERMORE, EVEN WHEN PRE-SERVICE OR IN-SERVICE TRAINING IS AVAILABLE, YOUNG PEOPLE OF POTENTIAL ARE RELUCTANT TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THESE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, HE ADDED.
DR HO POINTED OUT THAT VARIOUS BODIES CONCERNED WITH PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION HAD BEEN VOCAL IN URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO SET UP A REASONABLE SALARY SCALE COMMENSURATE TO THE IR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS.
NOTING THAT ANY INCREASE IN TEACHERS' SALARIES WOULD INFLATE THE OPERATIONAL COST AND THEREFORE WOULD BE PASSED ONTO THE PARENTS BY CORRESPONDING FEE INCREASE, DR HO SUGGESTED THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER A FINANCIAL SCHEME TO TOP UP THE SALARIES OF QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN NON-PROF IT-MAKING KINDERGARTENS.
M
+THE EFFECT IS TO UPLIFT THEIR SALARIES TO THE LEVEL ENJOYED BY THOSE CIVIL SERVANTS WITH COMPARABLE ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, WITHOUT INCREASING THE BURDEN OF PARENTS OF KINDERGARTEN PUPILS, HE EXPLAINED.
/AS A