[Archive] Common Questions & Answers (as at 25 Feb 2005)

Q：What kinds of services do Hong Kong’s pre-primary services refer to?

Q：Which pre-primary institutions will be affected under harmonisation of pre-primary services?

Q：Why does the Government not regulate pre-primary services for children aged 0-6 by one monitoring authority under one ordinance immediately to make things less cumbersome for parents and the sector?

Q：What are the reasons for harmonising pre-primary services? Is it good for parents?

Q：What are the factors that parents have to consider in selecting pre-primary institutions for their children after harmonisation of pre-primary services?

Q：After harmonisation, will the financial assistance received by children currently attending KGs or CCCs be affected?

Q：What are the arrangements for the air-conditioning fee of child care centres and the meal charge of full-day kindergartens after harmonisation of pre-primary services?

Q：Is there any different arrangement in the submission of service statistics by stand-alone child care centres ((0-3 years) after harmonisation?

Q：The child care centres (CCCs) which are to be converted to kindergartens (KGs) after harmonisation are not familiar with the requirements of the quality assurance mechanism of conducting self-evaluation and external review applicable to KGs. Will the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) give the af

Q：Will stand-alone child care centres (0-3 years) be required to adopt EMB’s quality assurance mechanism or follow the current requirements of SWD in service monitoring after harmonisation?

Q：Are there channels for the pre-primary institutions to communicate with the Education and Manpower Bureau after they switch from CCCs to KG-cum-CCCs?

Q：Will aided child care centres (CCCs) continue to be eligible to apply for Block Grant under the Lotteries Fund (LF) after harmonisation?

Q：What are the details for mutual recognition of qualifications of Child Care Workers (CCWs) and Qualified Kindergarten Teachers (QKTs)?

Q：Are there any further training opportunities for QKTs apart from the basic professional qualification?

Q：Serving KG principals and child care supervisors are required to receive further professional training. Are the current training places sufficient?

Q：What are the arrangements for Trainee Child Care Workers upon implementation of harmonisation?

Q：Can child care centres continue to employ Trainee Child Care Workers upon implementation of harmonisation of pre-primary services?

Q：When KG operators wish to expand their service to operate child care centres (0/2-3 years) or CCC operators wish to expand their service to operate KGs (3-6 years), which office should they approach and what kinds of certificates/documents are required to submit for applications?

Q：What are the requirements for operating full-day nursery class in kindergartens in the 2005/06 school year?

Q：Will full-day aided child care centres be permitted to operate half-day service upon conversion to KG-cum-CCCs after harmonisation of pre-primary services? What is the arrangement for financial assistance schemes to operators and parents for the half-day mode?

Q：Are non-profit-making KGs eligible for application for Lotteries Fund grant (LF)?