ENG-2013 — Page 166

7

Education

Language Education and Research, the University Grants Committee and the Vocational Training Council. The non-official members come from both education and non-education fields.

Kindergarten Education

To enable all school-aged children to have access to kindergarten education within a non- compulsory private-sector system, the government's Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme (PEVS) (introduced in the 2007-08 school year) provides a non-means-tested direct fee subsidy for eligible children aged above two years and eight months attending eligible local non-profit- making kindergartens. In the 2013-14 school year, about 169,800 children were enrolled in 969 kindergartens/kindergarten-cum-child care centres in Hong Kong. About 78 per cent of them received an annual fee subsidy of $17,510 and 95 per cent of local non-profit-making kindergartens benefited under the PEVS. A means-tested fee remission scheme is also available to needy families to ensure that no child will be deprived of kindergarten education because of lack of means. Under the PEVS, quality assurance for kindergartens is enhanced through a self- evaluation system, supported by an external review process.

The professional qualifications of kindergarten teachers have been continuously upgraded and all kindergartens are required to employ qualified kindergarten teachers. By the end of the 2011-12 school year, kindergarten teachers were expected to upgrade their professional qualifications to certificate level. With effect from the 2009-10 school year, all newly appointed kindergarten principals must have a bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education.

School Education

Twelve-years' free education has been provided to students in public sector schools with effect from the 2008-09 school year. Admissions to Primary 1 and Secondary 1 in public sector schools are administered through centralised systems. Under the NAS, Secondary 3 students will normally continue to receive senior secondary education in the same school or attend full-time vocational training courses run by the Vocational Training Council fully subvented by the government.

In September 2013, a total of 259,870 children were enrolled in 453 public sector primary schools and 323,690 children in 396 public sector secondary schools. Public sector school places made up about 80.1 per cent of school places. In addition, there were 74 Direct Subsidy Scheme schools, offering about 9.5 per cent of the school places.

Special Education

Subject to the assessment and recommendation of specialists and with parents' consent, students with more severe or multiple disabilities are placed in special schools for intensive support. Other students with special educational needs may attend ordinary schools. In September 2013, there were 60 special schools, 20 of which have boarding facilities, providing around 9,000 school places and 1,100 boarding places. Some 33,830 students with special educational needs were studying in public sector ordinary primary and secondary schools.

The government helps gifted students develop their capabilities through various programmes and the EDB supports schools in designing and implementing gifted development

126