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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1989
PRE-SCHOOL SERVICES A NECESSITY
PRE-SCHOOL SERVICES IN HONG KONG HAVE BECOME A NECESSITY RATHER THAN A LUXURY, AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO BE IN SUPPORTING THE IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY IN KINDERGARTEN SERVICES, THE HON RITA FAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ACTIVELY INVOLVED CHILD CARE AND
SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE ON THE CHILDREN, MRS FAN SAID THE ARTIFICIAL DIVISION BETWEEN CENTRES AND THE KINDERGARTENS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF TWO DEPARTMENTS WAS CONFUSING AND UNNECESSARY.
WELFARE OF CHILD CARE GOVERNMENT
SHE SAID THE CARE, GUIDANCE AND EDUCATION NEEDED BY CHILDREN ATTENDING CHILD CARE CENTRES AND KINDERGARTENS WERE BASICALLY THE SAME.
IN PLANNING FOR PRE-SCHOOL SERVICES, THE EMPHASIS MUST BE ON THE CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT AT VARIOUS STAGES RATHER THAN ON ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE.
MRS FAN NOTED THAT THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER HAD INDICATED IN MAY THAT PROPOSALS ON PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES WERE NEARLY READY FOR SUBMISSION TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
"I WOULD URGE THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO GIVE FULL AND DETAILED CONSIDERATION TO THE PROPOSALS AND COMMENTS OF THE ALLIANCE ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF PRE-PRIMARY POLICIES," SHE SAID.
SHE NOTED THAT THE ALLIANCE WAS LED BY HEADS AND TEACHERS OF KINDERGARTENS WITH YEARS OF FIELD EXPERIENCE, AND THEY DID HAVE FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE DIFFICULTIES.
LEVEL
THAT SECONDARY
FIVE
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MRS FAN ALSO SUPPORTED THE SUGGESTION BE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR CHILD CARE WORKERS KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS AFTER 1991 SO AS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY FRONT-LINE WORKERS.
"THIRDLY, I WOULD LIKE то SEE ACCEPTABLE PROPOSALS COMING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH IT MAY TAKE MORE TIME IN CONSULTATION WITH INVOLVED PARTIES IN THE FIELD, RATHER THAN A SET OF PROPOSALS WHICH ARE ATTRACTIVE ON PAPER BUT FAIL TO GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THOSE WHO HAVE A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION, SHE SAID.
TURNING TO SERVICES FOR GIFTED CHILDREN, MRS FAN SAID THESE CHILDREN RAN THE RISK OF BOREDOM. FRUSTRATION AND SUPPRESSION OF THEIR GIFTS IF THEIR ABILITIES WERE NOT RECOGNISED IN TIME TO PREVENT SERIOUS EDUCATIONAL OR OTHER PROBLEMS.
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