XN000022-1996-05-07 — Page 7

- 6.

Kindergarten subsidy application to close soon

Kindergarten operators are invited to apply for government subsidy under the Kindergarten Subsidy Scheme for the 1996-97 school year on or before Friday (May 10).

Senior Education Officer, Mr Chan Chi-tak, said: "The advantage of joining the Scheme is that kindergartens will be able to boost competitiveness by lowering their fees, and at the same time reduce parents' burden."

Under the revised Scheme, kindergarten operators will see an annual subsidy rate raised to $790 per pupil and eligibility cut-off point to $11,700 per pupil per year in the 1996-97 school year.

The subsidy rate and the cut-off point in the present Scheme are $695 and $8,300 respectively.

Mr Chan said: "The subsidy rate has been revised to take account of both inflation and the annual salary increment of teachers."

The enhancement of the eligibility cut-off point, raising by almost 41 per cent for the forthcoming school year, will enable up to 90 per cent of kindergartens to join the Scheme.

"For a standard kindergarten with 320 pupils, the revised subsidy will be $252,800 per year. For one with 80 or fewer pupils, a flat rate of $63,200 per year will be paid," said Mr Chan.

The Kindergarten Subsidy Scheme, introduced in September last year, is aimed at improving the quality of kindergarten education and to minimise the impact of fee increases on parents as a result of the Government's new regulatory requirements on kindergartens.

Mr Chan said kindergartens wishing to join the Scheme should complete the application forms and return them to the respective District Education offices.

More than $20.8 million was paid to 236 kindergartens benefiting about 60,000 pupils under the Education Department's Kindergarten Subsidy Scheme in the second payment of the 1995-96 school year, he noted.

The payment will be effected to kindergartens on Friday,

End