The Education Bureau (EDB) released today (Oct. 17) the web version of the Profile of Kindergartens and Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres 2023/24 School Year (www.chsc.hk/kindergarten) to provide basic information on all kindergartens, enhance the transparency of schools and help parents make informed school choices for their children. Mobile applications for iOS and Android versions of the Profile are also available for download.
A spokesman for the EDB said, "The Profile covers information on about 1 010 kindergartens in Hong Kong, including the list of kindergartens joining the Kindergarten Education Scheme in the 2023/24 school year and the approved school fees of kindergartens for the 2023/24 school year. For kindergartens joining the Scheme, the Profile will show their approved school fees after the deduction of government subsidies. Parents can also refer to the Fees Certificate of respective kindergartens for details of the approved fees, including school fees and meal charges, if applicable.
"Other information in the Profile includes the number and overall professional qualifications of the principal and teaching staff, enrolment, the teacher-to-pupil ratio, curriculum details, reference prices of major education items being sold, the application fee and the registration fee, and information on application for admission. All kindergartens joining the Scheme are required to disclose information on the proportion of major expenses in overall expenditure. The Profile also includes columns on 'Support to non-Chinese speaking students' and 'Support to students with special needs' for parents' easy reference."
The spokesman added, "All kindergartens joining the Scheme are required to undergo the Quality Review (QR) for quality assurance. For those kindergartens that have completed the QR process, information on whether they have met the prescribed standards is indicated in the Profile and the latest QR Report can be accessed through the link provided."
The Profile is available in English to help parents of non-Chinese speaking children access information on kindergartens more easily and comprehensively.
Printed copies of the Profile in Chinese and English will be available from October 31 for parents' reference at Regional Education Offices of the EDB, Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department (HAD), Maternal and Child Health Centres of the Department of Health, Integrated Family Service Centres of the Social Welfare Department, public libraries and Support Service Centres for Ethnic Minorities funded by the HAD.
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