XN000022-1992-04-27 — Page 4

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MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1992

(C) REPORT NO. 2

(1) UNIFICATION OF STANDARDS BETWEEN KINDERGARTENS AND CHILD

CARE CENTRES:

LONG-TERM

THE EDUCATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDED THIS AS A GOAL THE ACHIEVEMENT OF WHICH REQUIRES STEADY IMPROVEMENTS

TO KINDERGARTENS IN A NUMBER OF AREAS IN THE FIRST INSTANCE. THESE ARE

STILL PROCEEDING.

(2) NUMBERS OF TRAINED KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS:

THE EDUCATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDED AN INTERIM TARGET OF 85% TRAINED KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS AND REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE 40% TRAINED TEACHERS BY 1990 AND 60% BY 1994. IN THE EVENT, THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE THE LEGISLATIVE OPTION. INSTEAD, THE FEE REMISSION SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR KINDERGARTEN OPERATION TO CHARGE HIGHER FEES TO IMPROVE THE MIX OF TRAINED TEACHERS. IN 1990/91, 25.5% OF KINDERGARTENS HAVE REACHED OR EXCEEDED THE 85% TARGET FOR TRAINED TEACHERS. THIS ROSE ΤΟ 28.9% IN 1991/92. FURTHER MEASURES TO ENSURE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF RECOMMENDED TARGET ARE BEING CONSIDERED (ALSO SEE (3) BELOW).

(3) IMPROVEMENTS IN SALARIES FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS:

THE

A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN MONTHLY SALARIES HAS BEEN RECORDED BETWEEN 1989/90 AND 1990/91, 54% FOR

54% FOR QUALIFIED KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS, 43% FOR QUALIFIED ASSISTANT KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS AND 44% FOR UNQUALIFIED KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS. IN 1991/92, FURTHER INCREASES OF 19.5%, 14% AND 5.1% RESPECTIVELY WERE RECORDED. FURTHER MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE KINDERGARTEN OPERATORS TO IMPROVE THE RATIO AND PAY OF QUALIFIED STAFF AND FOR UNTRAINED TEACHERS TO COME FORWARD FOR TRAINING ARE BEING CONSIDERED BY THE WORKING PARTY ON KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION, WHICH WAS FORMED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION.

(4) DISPARITY BETWEEN KINDERGARTEN FEE REMISSION SCHEME AND IMPROVEMENTS RECOMMENDED FOR THE OLD FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME:

FEE SCHEME,

A POLICY DECISION WAS TAKEN TO INTRODUCE THE REMISSION SCHEME IN FAVOUR OF MAINTAINING THE FEE ASSISTANCE THE KEY REASONS BEING THE SPEED WITH WHICH SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE WITH THE FORMER. $10.1 MILLION WAS DISBURSED UNDER

REMISSION SCHEME IN 1990/91, COMPARED TO $6.5 MILLION IN 1989/90 UNDER THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME. THIS WAS INCREASED TO $20.7 MILLION FOR 1991-92, AND $25.56 MILLION IN 1992/93. OVER 10,300 FAMILIES ARE NOW RECEIVING FEE REMISSIONS NOW, COMPARED TO ONLY

3,400 IN MARCH

1990.

ENROLMENT:

(5) PROVISION OF SUBSIDISED S6 PLACES FOR ONE-THIRD OF 34

WITH THE RAPID EXPANSION OF OVER 3,000 PLACES EACH IN 1991/92 AND 1992/93, THIS TARGET WILL BE ACHIEVED BY SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR WHEN 22,500 S6 PLACES WILL BE PROVIDED.

/(6) BROADENING OF