XN000022-1974-11-27 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1974,

→WITHIN THREE YEARS, ALL STAFF MUST HAVE OBTAINED THE REQUIRED MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND, IN THE FINAL STAGE, THEY MUST ALL HAVE HAD RELEVANT TRAINING IN CHILD CARE WORK BEFORE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LEGISLATION ARE FULLY APPLIED AT THE END OF THE FOURTH YEAR,+ HE ADDED.

IN VIEW OF SOME DOUBTS EXPRESSED ON THE CLARITY OF THE DEFINITION OF CHILD CARE CENTRES, MR. LI RE-DEFINED IT TO

MEAN ANY PREMISES AT WHICH MORE THAN FIVE CHILDREN WHO ARE UNDER SIX ARE HABITUALLY RECEIVED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARE AND SUPERVISION DURING PART OF THE DAY OR FOR LONGER PERIODS.

PREMISES IN WHICH THE ONLY CHILDREN ARE MEMBERS OF FAMILIES ORDINARILY LIVING THERE ARE EXCLUDED,

AT PRESENT THERE ARE 86 SUBVENTED CENTRES WHICH ARE GENERALLY OF AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD, AND ABOUT 200 COMMERCIALLY OPERATED CENTRES WHICH VARY CONSIDERABLY IN THEIR OPERATION.

IT IS HOPED THAT THE MEASURES NOW PROPOSED WILL ELIMINATE THE POOR CONDITIONS PREVAILING IN THOSE BADLY-RUN ESTABLISHMENTS OPERATED ON A PURELY COMMERCIAL BASIS,+ MR, LI SAID,

DEBATE ON THE BILL HAS BEEN ADJOURNED.

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