Kindergartens and kindergarten-cum-child care centres (hereafter collectively referred to as “KG”) which are registered with the Education Bureau, provide services for children from three to six years old. At present, the majority of kindergartens operate on a semi-day basis, and offer lower kindergarten, upper kindergarten as well as nursery school classes. Some kindergartens provide full-day classes, too. The purpose of education in kindergartens within Hong Kong is to nurture children to achieve all-round development in the fields of ethics, intelligence and body, as well as aesthetics and social skills and to build healthy habits to prepare them for the future; and to encourage children’s enthusiasm in learning and instill positive attitudes towards learning in them so that they can create the basis for their learning in the future.
Current Situation
Every kindergarten in Hong Kong are privately run and are classified in two categories: non-profit making (NPM) schools (KGs) as well as private independent (PI) kindergartens, based on the sponsoring organizations that are either voluntary organisations or private businesses. Kindergartens are all accredited in accordance with the Educational Ordinance. The inspectors of the Education Bureau visit kindergartens regularly to provide counsel to teachers and principals regarding curriculum, teaching methods and the school’s administration. Operating Manuals for Primary Schools (January 2023, Version 3) produced through the Education Bureau and the Social Welfare Department is a guide for prospective school managers with required information on the legal requirements and suggestions for the running of kindergartens.
Hong Kong kindergarten can differ in their size in terms of their size and number of classes. They could be anywhere from two to 10. The majority of them provide a stimulating educational environment that is able to accommodate the children’s interests and experiences through the establishment of various activities centers. For instance, there might be a Reading Corner, Mathematics Corner, Nature Corner, Art and Crafts Corner, Music Corner, Home Corner etc. These centres are equipped with teaching tools for self-learning.
All children living in Hong Kong, irrespective of their nationality, are eligible for assistance with fees under the kindergarten and child care centre Fee Remission Scheme so when they are younger than 6 years oldand are studying in child care or kindergartens centers, and satisfy other conditions stipulated by the plan. Information can be found on this website, which is run by the Student Finance Office (SFO) of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistant Agency.
Curriculum
With regard to the changing trends in the world and the changing needs of children in the present, The Curriculum Development Council (CDC) reviewed”Guidelines to Preschool Curriculum, “Guide for the Pre-primary Curriculum” (2006) and recommended the key elements to enhance the curriculum for kindergarten.
“Kindergarten Education Curriculum Guide” (2017) is based on the premise of”Guidelines to Preschool Curriculum, “Guide to Pre-primary Education” (2006) It also and adopts “child-centredness” to be our fundamental value, and adheres to the fundamental idea that of “Understanding as well as respecting distinct development patterns of each child.”
The curriculum for Kindergarten Education covers five goals for development, which include “Moral Development”, “Cognitive and Language Development”, “Physical Development”, “Affective and Social Development” and “Aesthetic Development”, with the aim of achieving development of the five areas of ethics and morality, physique social skills, and aesthetics. The five objectives of development are to be met by focusing on six areas of learning, which include “Physical fitness and Health”, “Language”, “Early Childhood Mathematics”, “Nature and Living”, “Self and Society” and “Arts and Creativity” The curriculum includes “Values as well as Attitudes”, “Skills” and “Knowledge” and ensures the development of a holistic and balanced for children by utilizing approaches such as “Real-life themes”, “Integrated Approach” and “Learning through Play”.
Qualifications for Teachers and Statutory Requirements
The minimum academic requirement to teach kindergarteners is five passes which includes at least Chinese and English in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) or the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination with no more than two examinations.
Since September 2003 the kindergarten teachers must have a Qualified Kindergarten Teacher (QKT) certificate or equivalent. Please refer to EDBC No. 28/2003 for details.
Since the 2003/04 Kindergartens across the country are required to meet the ratio of 1:15 or less.
Since the introduction of the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme (PEVS) starting in the 2007/08 school term, direct payment of fees to parents as well as in tandem, financial aid for professional development of teachers were provided.
The new principals for the 2009/10 school year must be able to demonstrate an academic qualification from ECE [BEd(ECE)and one-year post-qualification and have completed an approved certificate course on principalship before or ideally within the first year following their appointment.
Starting with the school year 2012/13 kindergartens that are part of the supervision of PEVS must employ a the required number of teachers with C(ECE) Certificate in Early Childhood Education [C(ECE)qualification in accordance with the teacher to pupil ratio of 1:5.
A Comprehensive Program for children with mild disabilities
Some kindergarten-cum-child care centres have joined the “Integrated Programme” to provide intensive training and care to mildly disabled children aged 3-6. Through this program the children will be equipped for regular education they will receive in the near future. For more information, go to the website for the Social Welfare Department.
Primary One-Admission System
All children of Hong Kong who have reached the age of five years eight months or more (as as of the 1st of September) are eligible to take part as part of the Primary One Admission System, even if they haven’t been accepted into any of the primary school as of yet. The children will be assigned to the primary one of a state-run or aid-funded primary school. The goal of the System is to reduce the stress that young children face as the result of high competition for primary places , and the negative impact that this could affect kindergarten education. Parents must complete an application form and state their preference for schools in preferred order. In the Education Bureau would input the information into the computer, and primary one spot will be allocated for each child based on the preferences stated on the application. Children who are part of the system will be given admission to the primary school in a state-run or assisted primary school.
The Way forward
To help kindergartens keep themselves appraised on a regular basis and to encourage self-evaluation, the Education Bureau has implemented the improved Quality Assurance Framework from in the school year 2018/19. The public and kindergartens can use the performance indicators (Kindergartens) to evaluate the quality and standards of the kindergartens. An all-new cycle of Quality Review has started in the same school year in order to enhance the quality of high quality kindergarten education in Hong Kong.
