THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1981
AS FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS WISHING TO ATTEND KINDERGARTENS, THE GOVERNMENT WAS PREPARED TO PERMIT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BABY CLASSES PROVIDED THAT THE STANDARDS OF THESE CLASSES WERE THOSE APPLICABLE TO CHILD CARE CENTRES RATHER THAN KINDERGARTENS. IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEW THAT THERE WAS A GREATER NEED FOR CARE OF THESE YOUNGER CHILDREN, AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE A CORRESPONDINGLY GREATER PROVISION OF STAFF AND SPACE THAN FOR OLDER CHILDREN ATTENDING KINDERGARTENS.
+THESE STANDARDS WILL BE CLEARLY DEFINED IN THE RESPECTIVE ORDINANCES. I CAN SEE, NEVERTHELESS, THAT THERE MIGHT STILL BE ONE OR TWO DEMARCATION PROBLEMS, AND I MUST STRESS THAT IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO RETAIN THE STANDING CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE ON KINDERGARTENS AND CHILD CARE CENTRES WHICH IS CHAIRED BY A SENIOR OFFICIAL OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS IF AND WHEN THEY ARISE, MR HO SAID.
ON THE QUESTION OF TRAVEL TO PRIMARY SCHOOLS MR HO GAVE ASSURANCE THAT EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT TRAVEL BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WOULD ALSO CONSIDER THE FEASIBILITY OF HAVING A ONE-MILE RADIUS FOR THE EXERCISE OF PERSONAL CHOICE AND DISTRICTS FOR DEPARTMENTAL ALLOCATION.
REGARDING THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN KINDERGARTENS, HE SAID IT WAS COVERED BY THE MANUAL OF KINDERGARTEN PRACTICE.
THE GOVERNMENT VIEW WAS THAT IT WAS ADVISABLE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF ENGLISH INTO THE SYLLABUS TO BE POSTPONED TO PRIMARY TWO. BUT IF ENGLISH WERE TO BE INTRODUCED EARLIER, IT SHOULD BE KEPT VERY SIMPLE.
MR HO SAID THAT IN HIS REPLY, HE FELT CONSTRAINED TO DEAL ONLY WITH POINTS RELEVANT TO THE WHITE PAPER.
+NO POLICY DOCUMENTS CAN PLEASE EVERYBODY. SOME WILL BE UNHAPPY THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO MEET THE SPECIFIC POINTS THEY RAISED, BUT I THINK IT MUST BE CONCEDED BY EVEN THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC CRITICS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS IN THIS WHITE PAPER MADE A GENUINE ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE THE STANDARDS AND QUALITY OF PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES, MR HO CONCLUDED.
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