Government to inject $165m in kindergarten enhancement program

Successful applicants to get $150,000-$250,000 grants.

According to a report, the Education Bureau has proposed allocating $165 million for kindergartens to improve school resources to enhance teaching and learning effectiveness.

In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council today, the bureau said kindergartens under the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme in the 2013-14 school year would be given a one-off school development grant of $150,000 to $250,000 to improve school facilities and learning materials, and hire staff to develop teaching resources.

The kindergartens would be responsible for procurement, and drawing up procedures in line with the bureau’s guidelines. The grant could be spent over a span of three school years, after which any unspent amount would have to be returned.

Of 716 kindergartens that have submitted applications under the scheme, the bureau estimates nearly half would get the maximum amount of $250,000.