Up to HK$10,000 in vouchers for parents to pay fees; teacher training subsidised
The government is to pump an extra HK$2 billion a year into kindergarten education, the majority of it into a new voucher scheme to help parents cover the cost of fees.
From next year, parents of children aged three to six attending not-for-profit kindergartens will get vouchers worth up to HK$10,000 a year towards the fees. Up to HK$3,000 per child will go to support teacher training.
Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said that within five years all kindergarten teachers should be trained to diploma level and all principals should have degrees.
The annual subsidy per child will rise to HK$16,000 by 2011-12, and from then on parents will receive the whole amount to set against kindergarten fees.
The scheme will cover all children attending kindergartens which charge HK$24,000 a year or less for half-day classes or up to HK$48,000 for whole-day classes.
