XN000022-1982-07-12 — Page 3

MONDAY, JULY 12, 1982

MRS CHAN SAID THAT UNDER THE NEW FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME WHICH WOULD COME INTO OPERATION IN SEPTEMBER, PARENTS WHO COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY THE FULL COST AND WHO HAD A SOCIAL NEED TO PLACE THEIR CHILDREN IN DAY CARE WOULD RECEIVE ASSISTANCE.

THE SCHEME OPERATES ON A SLIDING SCALE PRINCIPLE WHICH ENSURES THAT THOSE WITH THE LOWEST INCOME RECEIVE THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

NONETHELESS, MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES WILL ALSO QUALIFY FOR SOME ASSISTANCE WITH CHILD CARE CENTRE FEES.

+THIS, + SHE SAID, IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT ON PAST POLICY UNDER WHICH SUCH FAMILIES WOULD NOT EVEN HAVE QUALIFIED FOR A PLACE IN A SUBVENTED CHILD CARE CENTRE.+

MRS CHAN SAID THAT ACCORDING TO THE REPORT OF THE 1981 CENSUS STUDY, NEARLY 40 PER CENT OF MOTHERS WITH PRE-SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN GO OUT TO WORK +A HIGH PROPORTION COMPARED WITH MANY OTHER COUNTRIES.+

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THIS WAS PARTLY DUE TO ECONOMIC FACTORS BUT ALSO REFLECTED THE INCREASING SOCIAL TREND OF WOMEN ASSUMING A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN BUSINESSES, INDUSTRIES AND THE PROFESSIONS.

+THIS TREND APPEARS TO BE IRREVERSIBLE AND SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED PROVIDING IT IS NOT TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE CARE AND WELL-BEING OF YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY, MRS CHAN SAID.

THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAS STATED IN THE 1981 WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES ITS INTENTION TO EXPAND THE PROVISION OF CHILD CARE CENTRE PLACES TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND.

THE WHITE PAPER LAYS DOWN GUIDELINES FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD CARE SERVICES AND KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THEIR PRE-SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT.

+FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN OF 2 AND 3, AN INFORMAL APPROACH EMPHASIS ING CARE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIALISATION AND CREATIVE PLAY ACTIVITIES IS REQUIRED, WHEREAS FOR OLDER CHILDREN OF 4 OR 5 MORE ORGANISED PROGRAMMES WITH AN EDUCATIONAL CONTENT CAN BE INTRODUCED, MRS CHAN SAID.

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