EXPENDITURE ON KGS
5
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1993
ALL THIS HAS NOT BEEN ACHIEVED WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE. TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON KINDERGARTENS FOR THE 1992-93 SCHOOL YEAR WILL REACH $165 MILLION. THIS INCLUDES DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO NON-PROFIT-MAKING KINDERGARTENS THROUGH REFUNDS OF RENT AND RATES, AND TO NEEDY PARENTS THROUGH FEE REMISSIONS, AS WELL AS FUNDS TO RUN FULLY SUBSIDISED TEACHER TRAINING COURSES FOR ALMOST 700 TRAINEES.
THE PROVISION FOR FREE REMISSIONS, AT $41 MILLION, INCLUDES A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OF $15 MILLION APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL ONLY LAST MONTH. THIS REPRESENTED A 37% INCREASE OVER THE ORIGINAL PROVISION, AND HAS INCREASED THE PROPORTION OF KINDERGARTEN PUPILS WHO ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE FEE REMISSION SCHEME FROM 5% TO 8%. WHEN OUR PRESENT PLANS TO BRING THE POINTS SYSTEM FOR KINDERGARTEN FEE REMISSIONS IN LINE WITH THAT FOR SENIOR SECONDARY STUDENTS IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED IN FIVE YEARS' TIME, THE PROVISION WILL HAVE INCREASED TO OVER $100 MILLION AT TODAY'S PRICES. THIS WILL FURTHER INCREASE THE PROPORTION OF KINDERGARTEN PUPILS BENEFITING FROM FEE REMISSIONS TO A SUBSTANTIAL 16%.
FURTHER PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS
I BELIEVE THAT EVEN OUR STAUNCHEST CRITICS WILL AGREE THAT THESE ARE REAL AND SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT, IN SEEKING TO DO MORE AND BETTER, THEY SHARE WITH US A COMMON OBJECTIVE, NAMELY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION,
AS MANY MEMBERS HAVE RIGHTLY OBSERVED, THE KEY ΤΟ HIGHER QUALITY LIES IN INCREASING THE PROPORTION OF TRAINED TEACHERS IN KINDERGARTENS. THIS IN TURN DEPENDS ON THE ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS OF KINDERGARTEN OPERATORS TO PAY THE APPROPRIATE SALARIES. OUR PRESENT POLICY SEEKS ΤΟ BRING THIS ABOUT. BOTH THE WORKING PARTY ON KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION AND THE EDUCATION COMMISSION HAVE RECOMMENDED A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH, NAMELY THAT WE SHOULD INTRODUCE STATUTORY STAFFING REQUIREMENTS TO REACH THE 40%, 60% AND 85% TRAINED TEACHER TARGETS PROGRESSIVELY, BUT ONLY IF FUNDING FOR THE FEE REMISSION SCHEME IS IMPROVED FIRST, SO AS TO ENSURE THAT PARENTS WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE RESULTING INCREASE IN FEES. HAVING MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FEE REMISSION SCHEME, WE ARE NOW ABLE TO CONSIDER SERIOUSLY THE INTRODUCTION OF STATUTORY TRAINED TEACHER MANNING LEVELS IN KINDERGARTENS. PRESENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE то STIPULATE A MINIMUM PROPORTION OF 40% TRAINED TEACHERS IN EACH KINDERGARTEN IN 1995-96, TAKING ACCOUNT OF THE TIME KINDERGARTEN OPERATORS TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THIS.
NEEDED BY
/FURTHER OPTIONS