ENG-2008 — Page 195

Education | 143

The revised 'Guide to the Pre-primary Curriculum', implemented since September 2007, provides the basic principles and direction for pre-school educators to develop school-based curriculum. Quality assurance for kindergartens is enhanced through a self-evaluation system, supported by an external review process.

The Government enables all school-aged children have access to kindergarten education within a non-compulsory private-sector system by providing financial support for parents towards school fees, assisting with rents and rates for non- profit-making kindergartens; and reserving premises for them in public housing

estates.

The Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme, introduced in the 2007-08 school year, provides direct fee subsidy for parents and financial support for kindergarten teachers' professional upgrading. About 85 per cent of students and 80 per cent of kindergartens benefit under the scheme. Eligible children aged two years and eight months attending local non-profit-making kindergartens can receive an annual fee. subsidy of $11,000 in the 2008-09 school year and this will be increased to $16,000 by the 2011-12 school year.

School Education

Nine-year free and universal basic education is provided for children aged 6 to 15 -six years of primary education plus three years of junior secondary education. With effect from the 2008-09 school year, free senior secondary education is also provided in all public sector schools. Admissions to Primary 1 and Secondary 1 in public sector schools are administered through centralised systems. Under the NSS academic structure, Secondary 3 students will normally continue their studies in the same school to receive three-year free senior secondary education or vocational training fully subvented by the Government.

In September 2008, a total of 310 400 children were enrolled in public sector primary schools and 405 100 children in public sector secondary schools. Public sector school places made up about 85 per cent of school places. In addition, there were 71 Direct Subsidy Scheme schools, offering about 7.4 per cent of the school places.

As at September, there were 51 international schools, including 15 schools operated by the English Schools Foundation. These schools form an important part of Hong Kong's status as an international business centre and a vibrant cosmopolitan city. They offer different non-local curricula, including the national curriculum of the United Kingdom, America, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore and others such as the International Baccalaureate programmes, providing about 34 600 school places.

Special Education

Students with severe learning difficulties and multiple disabilities are given places in special schools for more intensive support. Other students with special educational needs are enrolled in ordinary schools. Schools are requested to adopt a Whole School Approach to supporting these students. In the 2008-09 school year,

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