Kindergartens

In September 2001, 156 200 children were enrolled in 784 kindergartens. Most kindergartens operate in half-day sessions.

The Government continues to promote the development of quality kindergarten education through upgrading the qualifications of kindergarten principals and teachers. All kindergartens are now required to employ at least 60 per cent professionally trained Qualified Kindergarten Teachers (QKTs). This requirement will be raised to 100 per cent by the 2004-05 school year. From the 2001-02 school year, the entry requirements of kindergarten teachers have been raised from two passes in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (including one language subject) to five passes, including both Chinese and English. All newly appointed kindergarten principals will be required to have completed the Certificate in Kindergarten Education or its equivalent as from September 2002. Moreover, from the 2003-04 school year, all new kindergarten teachers must possess a pre-service QKT qualification.

The Kindergarten Subsidy Scheme was introduced in 1995 to help kindergartens meet the required proportion of QKTs without having to increase their fees substantially. The Administration will be introducing improvements in 2002 to encourage kindergartens to employ more QKTs. Starting from the 2001-02 school year, the teacher:pupil ratio in kindergartens will be improved by three phases from 1:20 (Nursery Class) and 1:30 (Kindergarten Classes) to 1:15.

The Education Department enhances the development of quality early childhood education by promoting school self-evaluation and external monitoring mechanism. Since the 2000-01 school year, quality assurance inspection has been implemented in kindergartens. The first edition of Performance Indicators for Kindergartens was issued in 2000. The second edition of Performance Indicators on the Domain Learning and Teaching was published in 2001 as the basis for school self-evaluation and quality assurance inspection by the Education Department.

A pamphlet was published to advise parents on how they can help their children of kindergarten age. A list of 'Dos and Don'ts for Kindergartens' was issued for reference by kindergartens in planning their curriculum. Profiles on key features of kindergartens are also published annually for public reference.

A joint working group between the Education Department and the Social Welfare Department has completed its deliberations on the further harmonisation of kindergartens and child care centres. The public will be consulted in 2002.