Chief Executive CY Leung visited a kindergarten in Eastern District today to learn more about its daily operation.
He saw students participate in various learning activities, and was briefed by the school supervisor, the principal and senior teachers on the kindergarten's teaching methods and operation.
Mr Leung noted the kindergarten offers a wide range of services that suit the different needs of parents, and students can enjoy fee subsidy through the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme.
He said the Government attaches great importance to kindergarten education, with recurrent expenditure on kindergarten education increasing 46% on 2012-13 to $4.1 billion this fiscal year.
"The Committee on Free Kindergarten Education was established by the current-term Government in April 2013 to look into the practicable implementation of free kindergarten education while maintaining both the flexibility of the kindergarten sector and the provision of diversified kindergarten services for parents," Mr Leung said.
While the committee has an emerging consensus that free kindergarten education should cover half-day services, it acknowledges that some families may need whole-day or long whole-day services, he said. The committee also considers that the provision should only cover basic expenses directly attributable to children's learning and school operation.
"I understand that the committee will soon submit a report to the Secretary for Education recommending the direction for the implementation of free kindergarten education. The Government will follow up and study in detail how to take it forward."
