XN000022-1979-01-16 — Page 2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1979

SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES OUTLINES

PLANS FOR YEAR OF THE CHILD

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THE NEED TO GIVE GREATER ATTENTION TO THE PRE-SCHOOL CHILD HAS BEEN RECOGNISED FOR SOME TIME AND AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING PARTY APPOINTED TO REVIEW GOVERNMENT POLICY IN THIS AREA HAS MADE GOOD PROGRESS AND EXPECTS TO COMPLETE ITS REPORT SHORTLY. THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. E.P. HO, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

MR. HO WAS DELIVERING A LUNCHTIME SPEECH TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG ENTITLED +PLANS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE UNITED NATIONS' YEAR OF THE CHILD+,

MR. HO SAID SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THE WORKING PARTY'S PROPOSALS AND THE MEASURES TO IMPLEMENT THEM, TOGETHER WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY EDUCATION, WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN A GREEN PAPER THIS YEAR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND DEBATE BEFORE A FINAL DECISION WAS TAKEN.

+ IT IS AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THIS REVIEW THAT IT IS LOOKING AT THE WORK OF DAY CARE CENTRES AND KINDERGARTENS TOGETHER, MR. HO SAID. +ALTHOUGH THE TWO SERVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES, THERE ARE MANY SIMILARITIES IN THEIR FUNCTIONS AND THEY SERVE THE NEEDS OF A COMMON AGE-GROUP. IT IS DESIRABLE THEREFORE THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S MEASURES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH SERVICE SHOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH ITS POLICY TOWARDS THE OTHER.+

MR. HO SAID THAT AS RIGHTLY OBSERVED BY MANY EDUCATORS, IT WAS NOT DESIRABLE CHILDREN SHOULD BE CRAMMED AT THE KINDERGARTEN STAGE WITH A CURRICULUM DESIGNED FOR OLDER CHILDREN. HENCE, REDUCING THE COMPETITIVENESS FOR ENTRY TO PRIMARY SCHOOL HAD BEEN ONE OF THE SUBJECTS UNDER STUDY,

+YET KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION, IF PROPERLY CONCEIVED AND DESIGNED IN RELATION TO THE CHILD'S OWN PACE, CAN BE OF GREAT BENEFIT TO HIS SUBSEQUENT INTELLECTUAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION OF THIS TYPE WOULD NOT PLACE EMPHASIS ON ROTE-LEARNING, BUT WOULD SEEK TO DEVELOP THE CHILD'S SKILLS IN COMMUNICATION, SIMPLE MOTOR-SKILLS, THE ABILITY TO MIX WITH OTHERS SUCCESSFULLY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACCEPTABLE SOCIAL HABITS.

THERE WERE MANY WORTHWHILE ACTIVITIES OF THIS TYPE UNDERTAKEN IN HONG KONG IN KINDERGARTENS AND IN CHILD CARE CENTRES. THE WORKING PARTY'S RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE THESE ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP FURTHER AND TO BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD.

MR. HO SAID PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEED OF MORE INTENSIVE PERSONAL GUIDANCE AND HELP WOULD BE STEPPED UP THROUGH THE EXTENSION OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK.

/ONE FEATURE