XN000022-1992-05-20 — Page 25

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1992

TRAINING FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS ENCOURAGED

THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING A NUMBER OF MEASURES SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT ENCOURAGING HEADS OF KINDERGARTENS TO RELEASE THEIR TEACHERS FOR TRAINING, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN

CHAN, SAID.

THESE MEASURES INCLUDE OFFERING A VARIETY OF MODES OF AND TRAINING TIMES TO SUIT DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, HE

ATTENDANCE ADDED.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON STEPHEN NG MING-YUM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR CHAN SAID THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDED INDIRECT ENCOURAGEMENT BY ALLOWING KINDERGARTEN OPERATORS TO INCREASE FEES TO COVER THE INCREASED STAFF

COSTS.

"A NEW KINDERGARTEN FEE REMISSION SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN 1990-91 TO ASSIST NEEDY PARENTS SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE DETERRED BY THE INCREASED FEES FROM SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO KINDERGARTENS.

"THE SCHEME WAS ENHANCED IN THE 1991-92 SCHOOL YEAR.

THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IS ALSO CONSIDERING FURTHER MEANS OF ENCOURAGING THE MOVE TOWARDS A BETTER QUALIFIED KINDERGARTEN TEACHING FORCE AND IS EXPECTED TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS IN ITS FIFTH REPORT TO BE RELEASED SHORTLY.

MR

CHAN SAID THE NUMBER OF KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN COURSES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN EACH OF THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IS 960.

FURTHERMORE THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC RUNS A CERTIFICATE COURSE IN PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION WHICH HAS AN ANNUAL INTAKE OF ABOUT 130.

STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE NUMBER OF QUALIFIED KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS TRAINED IN 1988-89, 1989-90 AND 1990-91 WERE 227, 224 AND 226 RESPECTIVELY, WHILE THE NUMBER OF QUALIFIED ASSISTANT KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS TRAINED IN THE SAME THREE-YEAR PERIOD WERE 484, 274 AND 358.

THE ACTUAL INTAKE AND CAPACITY OF THE TRAINING COURSES WERE 758 AND 960 IN 1988-89, 526 AND 960 IN 1989-90, AND 659 AND 1,020 IN 1990- 91 RESPECTIVELY.

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS FROM TRAINED KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS CONCERNING DIFFICULTIES IN FINDING JOBS OR IN OBTAINING THE NORMATIVE SALARIES DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, MR CHAN SAID.

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