XN000022-1987-01-21 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1987

'LACK OF UNDERSTANDING TOWARDS KINDERGARTENS

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THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S FINDINGS ON HONG KONG'S PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION AND SERVICES WERE CRITICISED BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

DESCRIBING THE SECTION ON PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION AND SERVICES OF THE REPORT AS A HALF-HEARTED ATTITUDE TO AND A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEMS CONFRONTING KINDERGARTENS AND CHILD CARE CENTRES IN HONG KONG, HE SAID THE SOCIAL SERVICES FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY HAS EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION ON THE ISSUE.

+

MR HUI PREDICTED, DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 2, THAT THE DEMAND FOR PRE-SCHOOL SERVICES WOULD GROW BECAUSE MORE WORKING MOTHERS WERE JOINING THE LABOUR FORCE.

HE URGED THAT AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN BE DRAWN UP FOR THE PROPOSED LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF PRE- PRIMARY EDUCATION AND EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF FORWARD PLANNING.

+WE SEE IT AS GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO BECOME MORE INTERVENTIONIST IN ITS PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION POLICY.

+ IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE ONLY FEE ASSISTANCE TO PARENTS. NON-PROFIT-MAKING KINDERGARTEN AND CHILD CARE CENTRE OPERATORS NEED TO GET MORE SUBSIDY TO COVER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND SALARIES, HE SAID.

MR HUI SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE PROPOSAL HE PUT FORWARD REQUIRED THE GOVERNMENT TO FOOT A MUCH BIGGER BILL, IT WAS A TEST OF THE GOVERNMENT'S SINCERITY AND WILLINGNESS TO IMPROVE THE LOT OF PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN.

APART FROM PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT, MR HUI SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE SERIOUS THOUGHTS TO ENFORCING UNIFIED STAFFING STANDARDS FOR KINDERGARTEN AND CHILD CARE CENTRES.

HE SAID THE ASSISTANT KINDERGARTEN TEACHER POSTS NOW FILLED BY FORM 3 GRADUATES SHOULD BE PHASED OUT AND THAT ONLY FORM 5 GRADUATES BE EMPLOYED AFTER 1988.

HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT REGULATIONS BE DRAWN UP TO ENSURE THAT OPERATORS DO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED SALARY SCALES FOR QUALIFIED STAFF.

ON STAFF TRAINING, MR HUI URGED THAT A LONG PROMISED TRAINING INSTITUTE FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS BE SET UP WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.

/+TO SPEED

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