XN000022-1982-01-28 — Page 4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1982

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KINDERGARTEN STATUS CHANGE ENCOURAGED

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A SET OF GUIDELINES HAS BEEN CIRCULATED TO ALL PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS LISTING THE PROCEDURES ON HOW TO APPLY FOR CHANGE TO NON-PROF IT-MAKING STATUS SO THAT THEY MAY BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

+ IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO NON-PROFIT-MAKING KINDERGARTENS SO THAT THEIR STANDARDS CAN BE IMPROVED AND MAINTAINED.

+ALL KINDERGARTENS ARE THEREFORE ENCOURAGED TO CHANGE TO NON-PROF IT-MAXING STATUS IN THE FIRST INSTANCE IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE,+ AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

HOWEVER, HE CAUTIONED THAT THE ACQUISITION OF NON-PROFIT- MAKING STATUS ALONE DOES NOT GUARANTEE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF RE-IMBURSEMENT OF RENTALS AND RATES.

SO PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS WHICH WISH TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITIES OF QUALIFYING FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE SHOULD MAKE THE IR APPLICATIONS TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BEFORE INITIATING ANY LEGAL PROCEDURES FOR INCORPORATING AS A NON-PROF IT-MAKING BODY.

EACH APPLICATION WILL BE STUDIED BY A DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE, AND SINCE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL VARY FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL EACH CASE WILL BE CONSIDERED ON ITS OWN MERITS.

THE GUIDELINES ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE CRITERIA FOR NON-PROF IT-MAKING STATUS, AND HOW PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS CAN CHANGE TO NON-PROF IT-MAKING STATUS.

+A PRIVATE KINDERGARTEN CAN CHANGE TO NON-PROFIT-MAKING STATUS EITHER BY THE SCHOOL OPERATORS INCORPORATING THEMSELVES AS A NON-PROFIT-MAKING BODY, OR BY HANDING THE SCHOOL OVER TO AN ESTABLISHED NON-PROF IT-MAKING SPONSOR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS INTERESTED IN CHANGING TO NON-PROFIT- MAKING STATUS CAN APPLY TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDING THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF THEIR SCHOOLS, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES, DETAILS OF THE SCHOOL PREMISES, THE IR FINANCIAL STATUS AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION.

ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER (SCHOOLS), EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, THIRD FLOOR, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG, OR ON TELEPHONE 5-778311 EXT. 124.