ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR NURSERY (K1) CLASSES IN KINDERGARTENS FOR THE
2023/24 SCHOOL YEAR
The Government has implemented the kindergarten (KG) education scheme (Scheme) starting from the 2017/18 school year.
K1 Admission Arrangements will continue to be at the discretion of individual KGs to fit into the
implementation of the Scheme.
Education Bureau Circular Memorandum No. 80/2022 on 2023/24 K1 Admission Arrangements issued
Background
Objectives
KGs Covered
Measures
Distribution of Application Forms
School-based Admission Mechanism
‘‘Not More Than One Place for Each Child” Measure
Admission Support for Non-Chinese Speaking (NCS) Children
Release of Vacancy Information
2023/24 K1 Admission Arrangements
To avoid hoarding of more than one place by a child at any one time to enable KGs to confirm enrolment for manpower planning, and facilitate parents in securing a place for their children in a timely manner;
To avoid parents queuing up for a long time for application forms; and
To help parents find a place for their children by
providing them information on the vacancy situation.
Objectives
Applicable to Scheme-KGs
Strongly encourage the non-Scheme local KGs to join:
Distribution of application forms via school website / no quota for distribution of printed application forms; and /or
“Not More Than One Place for Each Child” Measure; and /or
Release of Information on K1 vacancies to the public through the electronic platform of the EDB
KGs Covered
Irrespective of whether KGs will join the Scheme or not, they should comply with the following basic principles :
Distribution of Application Forms
Should not limit the numbers of forms to be distributed and should not set a quota on the number of application forms to be collected.
Must inform parents in advance the arrangement for obtaining application forms and submitting admission applications, including :
Dates for distribution and submission of application forms, application procedure and fee (if applicable), etc.
School-based Admission Mechanism
Should include the admission procedure and criteria, the mode of interview, and the number of child-applicants to be interviewed, etc.
Must be fair, just and open
Should inform parents in advance of the details of their school-based admission mechanism through effective channels (e.g. guidance notes in application forms, admission guidelines/leaflets, school website, etc. ) and upload the relevant information, the link to the webpage indicating the KG’s
Irrespective of whether KGs will join the Scheme or not, they should comply with the following basic principles while implementing admission arrangements:
Must be in compliance with the existing anti-discrimination legislation and other related legislation/ordinance, including:
Sex Discrimination Ordinance, Disability Discrimination Ordinance, Family Status Discrimination Ordinance, Race Discrimination Ordinance; and
Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance and/or Prevention of Bribery Ordinance ,etc.
Circulars and guidelines issued by the EDB, e.g. the
application forms and relevant information provided by KGs must be in both Chinese and English
(Paragraph 4 & 5 of EDBCM No. 80/2022)
(1) Distribution of Application Forms
(2) School-based Admission Mechanism
(3) “Not More Than One Place for Each Child”
Measure
(4) Admission Support for Non-Chinese Speaking Children
Measures
9
Measures
(1)
Distribution of Application Forms Should not limit the no. of forms to be distributed/ collected
Should not interview the child-applicants earlier than November (2) School-based Admission Mechanism
When considering applications for Whole-day(WD)/Long WD services:
KGs should give due priority to families that require the services (e.g.
families with working parents, families which need to take care of persons with disability at home ,etc. )
Relevant conditions should be included in the admission criteria announced
Under special circumstances, the EDB will make referrals as appropriate if individual children (including children at risk of developmental delay and NCS children) encounter difficulties in applying for admission :
K1 Places for 2023/24 s.y. : Starting from April 2023
K2 & K3 Places for 2023/24 s.y. : Starting from July 2023
Measures
(2) School-based Admission Mechanism
KGs must provide the relevant documents of their K1 admission arrangements in both Chinese and English, e.g.
application forms and relevant information
Relevant documents for admission arrangements have been uploaded onto the EDB’s website for reference
All documents related to admission should be properly kept
for records (e.g. application forms, interview records, selection
results, etc.)
Registration Procedure
• Arrangements on
announcement of admission results
• Centralised Registration Dates
• Arrangements on submission of a valid registration
document and registration fee (including the amount)
• Arrangements on registration for children on waiting list
• Arrangements for children changing school after registration
Information on
Admission Application
• Ways to distribute application forms
• Date and period for
distribution of application forms
• Application procedure
• Application fee (if applicable)
• Ways to submit application forms
• Date and time for submission of application forms
School-based
Admission Mechanism
• Number of child- applicants to be interviewed
• Interview format and arrangements
• Admission criteria
1 2 3
Measures
(2) School-based Admission Mechanism
KGs are required to upload the information below onto the school website on or before 15 September 2022 (Thursday) and/or via different channels to inform parents in advance.
Other relevant
information such as the introduction of the school and school fee information
The link to the
webpage indicating the KG’s school information in the
“Profile of KGs and KG-cum-Child Care Centres”
The link to EDB’s website on
Admission
Arrangements for Nursery (K1)
Classes in
Kindergartens
4 5 6
Measures
(2) School-based Admission Mechanism
KGs are required to upload the information below onto the school website on or before 15 September 2022 (Thursday) and/or via different channels to inform parents in advance.
Measures
Scheme-KGs can only admit children holding a valid registration document.
If parents are unable to submit the valid registration document, even if they are willing to pay full school fees, the KG concerned cannot admit their children.
In order to fully implement the measure, principles of the above arrangement are also applicable to K2 and K3.
Premised on the principle that each child should only attend one KG, and for enabling children to have equal opportunities for receiving subsidised KG education as well as making good use of the Government resources, regardless of the level, all Scheme-KGs can only admit children with a valid registration document.
(3)“Not More Than One Place for Each Child” Measure
Registration Certificate for
Kindergarten Admission Kindergarten Admission Pass
The children must be Hong Kong residents with right of abode, right to land or valid permission to remain without any condition of stay (other than the limit of stay) in Hong Kong
In general, the validity of RC is three years
Valid registration documents for 2023/24 school year
For children who are eligible for
receiving subsidised KG education Registration Certificate
for KG Admission
（ RC）
If parents arrange for their children to receive KG education for more than 3 years due to personal consideration (e.g. individual conditions of the children, family factors, changing schools, etc.), the parents have to pay the full school fee before deduction of subsidy under the Scheme.
Application for extension of validity period of RC will only be considered by the EDB on case-by-case basis for students with special needs. The applicant must provide relevant proof, for example, an assessment report issued by the relevant registered medical practitioner or professional (e.g. paediatrician, psychiatrist, educational psychologist, clinical psychologist, etc.), confirming special needs of the child for pursuing KG education for a period longer than the normal three years.
KGs should inform the parents of the above-mentioned points to note in writing when the parents show intention in arranging their children to receive KG education for more than 3 years. (Template of the notice is at Appendix 2 of “Guidelines on Kindergarten Admission Arrangements for the 2023/24 SchoolYear.”)
Valid registration documents for 2023/24 school year
For children who are eligible for
receiving subsidised KG education Registration Certificate
for KG Admission
（RC）
Valid registration documents for 2023/24 school year
For children who are eligible for
receiving subsidised KG education Registration Certificate
for KG Admission
（RC）
For a Scheme-KG to be disbursed with subsidy for a month, an eligible student studying in that KG must have attended classes in that month.
In general, if students have been absent from school for an entire month (i.e. absent for all school days of a specific month), subsidy in respect of the student for that month would not be disbursed to the KG concerned; parents are required to pay full school fees before deduction of subsidy under the Scheme as shown on the “Fees Certificate” of the KG to which the child is admitted.
If there are any special circumstances (e.g. absence due to illness for the entire month), upon receipt of justifications and documentary proof (covering all school days of the absent month) from parents, schools may apply to the EDB for subsidy. Each case would be considered on its individual merits. However, if the whole-month absence of students
Valid registration documents for 2023/24 school year
For children who are NOT eligible for receiving subsidised KG education
Kindergarten Admission Pass
（AP）
E.g.：
Non-local children (who can receive education in HK upon obtaining permission from the Director of Immigration) :
• holder of a form of recognizance
• whose parent(s) is/are holding a student visa
Students who receive the 4th year of KG education but NOT approved for extending the validity of RC
Valid registration documents for 2023/24 school year
．Mainly for provisional registration when
transferring to another KG/ repeating K1 in the same KG
．Must be replaced by RC or AP on or before the 1st day of officially attending the KG
Provisional Registration Letter
Registration Certificate for KG Admission
(Application starts from September)
Application form can be obtained from District Offices, Post Offices and the Regional Education Offices of EDB. Parents can also submit application on-line.
(https://eform.one.gov.hk/form/edb005/en/)
Application Form of
Registration Certificate for KG Admission
Sample - Application Form of
Registration Certificate for KG Admission
Sample - Registration Certificate for KG Admission
(For children who are eligible for receiving subsidised KG education
)
Sample - Kindergarten Admission Pass
(For children who are NOT eligible for receiving subsidised KG education
)
Provisional Registration Letter
(Application starts from November)
Sample - Provisional Registration Letter
Can receive education in HK
Cannot education in HKreceiveEligible for Subsidy
Not Eligible for SubsidyRC AP
When is Provisional Registration Letter required? (Example)
Studying in a K1 class in School A in the 2022/23school year
Transferring to School B
Wish to transfer to a K1 class in School B in the
2023/24 school year
A B
Apply for the Provisional Registration Letter from the
EDB from November 2022
Submit the Provisional Registration Letterfor registration during the Centralised
Registration Dates
Must submit RC or AP to School B on or before the 1st day of officially attending School B in the 2023/24
school year
Studying in a K1 class in School A in the 2022/23 school year
Transferring to School B
A B
When is Provisional Registration Letter required? (Example)
Measures
The EDB will issue a registration document to each child who can receive education in Hong Kong
RC／ AP
All Scheme-KGs can only admit children with RC／ AP
Parents are required to apply to the EDB for the RC from September to November 2022. Details on application will be announced in or before September this year and uploaded to the EDB’s website.
Upon receipt of the applications with all necessary information and documents provided, the EDB will generally take six to eight weeks to complete processing of the applications and issue the RC to applicants who are eligible for receiving subsidy under the Scheme by post.
If a child cannot obtain an RC as he/she can receive education in Hong Kong but is not eligible for receiving subsidy under the Scheme :
• The EDB will issue anAP to the child concerned.
• children can use AP for registration and admission to a Scheme-KG.
• Parents are required to pay full school fees before deduction of subsidy under the Scheme as shown on the Fees Certificate
(3)“Not More Than One Place for Each Child” Measure
Measures
To complete the registration, parents are required to submit the following items to the KG concerned during the Centralised Registration Dates ( i.e.
5-7 January 2023 )
RC／ AP ; and
Registration fee
KGs should not require parents to complete the registration procedure, or pay the registration fee or other fees (e.g. for purchasing school
uniforms, tea and snacks, etc.) in any forms before the Centralised Registration Dates
(3) “Not More Than One Place for Each Child” Measure
Measures
Scheme-KGs cannot collect registration fees exceeding the approved ceilings:
Half-day session : $970
Whole-day session: $1,570
Should parents intend to change to another KG after registration, they must get back the registration document from the KG that they have
registered with. The KGs should return the registration document to the parents as soon as possible. Normally, registration fee paid will not be refunded.
“Not More Than One Place for Each Child” Measure
Measures
KGs must provide both Chinese and English versions of the application form and other relevant information.
Be careful about the details of admission arrangements on whether they may involve direct or indirect discrimination; when answering enquiries from parents, teachers and staff should offer assistance as appropriate and avoid misunderstanding.
KGs should create an icon, simple message in English or provide a link to the English
version of the website on the home page of the school website prominently, to let parents of NCS children obtain the English version of the information instantly when browsing the home page of the school website.
KGs should also provide the links to the English version of the EDB’s website on K1 Admission Arrangements in KGs and the webpage indicating the KG’s school information in the “Profile of KGs and KG-cum-Child Care Centres” on the school website
prominently (e.g. home page of the school website/the webpage providing the admission
(4) Admission Support for NCS Children
Points to Note for Updating/Creating KGs’School Websites
(Please refer to the item 2 of Appendix 1 on “Guidelines on Kindergarten Admission Arrangements for the 2023/24 School Year” )
1. All Scheme-KGs should provide the following information in both Chinese and English on their school websites (please refer to EDBCM no. 126/2020 on “Kindergarten Education Scheme- Website Enhancement Grant” for the Tier-1 requirement) ：
Introduction of the school
School-based admission arrangements for nursery (K1) classes in KGs
School’s support to NCS children
School fee information
“Profile of KGs and KG-cum-Child Care Centres” – provide a link to the webpage indicating the KG’s school information (The link is required to be updated after the new version is released in every school year)
Provide a link to the EDB’s webpage on Admission Arrangements for Nursery (K1) Classes in KGs
Enquiry telephone number and email address for parents of NCS children
2. Both English and Chinese versions of admission information on the school websites should be identical.
33
Points to Note for Updating/Creating KGs’School Websites
(Please refer to the item 2 of Appendix 1 on “Guidelines on Kindergarten Admission Arrangements for the 2023/24 School Year” )
3. To facilitate parents of NCS children in obtaining relevant information on admission arrangements, KGs should create an icon, simple message in English or provide a link to the English version of the website on the home page of the school website prominently, to let parents obtain the English version of the information instantly when browsing the home page of the school website. The icon/message in English/link to English version of the website should not be displayed at an inconspicuous location or on webpages other than the home page (e.g. relevant English icon/message in English/link to the English version of the website can only be seen after clicking on other Chinese icons on the home page).
4. KGs should provide the links to the English version of the webpage indicating the KG’s school information in the “Profile of KGs and KG-cum-Child Care Centres”
and the EDB’s website on K1 Admission Arrangements in KGs
(https://www.edb.gov.hk/k1-admission_e) on the school website prominently (e.g. home page of the school website/the webpage providing the admission information in English) to facilitate parents of NCS children browsing relevant information.
5. KGs should state explicitly on the school website that they could arrange
Examples of Website Design – Homepage (in Chinese)
ABC幼稚園- 主頁
相片/圖片
主頁 學校簡介 最新消息 收生資料Admission 聯絡我們 XXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXX XX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXX XXX XXX XXXXX XXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXX
XXX XXX XXXXX XXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXX XXX XXXX XXXXX XX XXXX XXXX XXX XX
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
相片 相片 相片
XXX XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXX XXXX XX XX XXXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX XXX X
相片/圖片
主頁 學校簡介 最新消息 收生資料 聯絡我們 XXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXX XX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXX XXX XXX XXXXX XXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXX
XXX XXX XXXXX XXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXX XXX XXXX XXXXX XX XXXX XXXX XXX XX
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXX XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXX XXXX XX XX XXXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX XXX X
Admission Information 圖標/相片
圖標/相片
An English message is provided in the Chinese version of the main menu of the home page or an icon is created on the home page prominently so as to facilitate parents of NCS children in obtaining the admission information in
English. 35
Examples of Website Design - Webpage providing information on admission arrangements
A. 學校簡介
XXXXXX XXX
XXXXX B. 校本收生安排
XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXXX
XXX XXXX XXX C. 學費資料
XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX
XXXX XX XXXX D. 非華語兒童入學申請的安排
在面見非華語兒童時，學校可按需要為申請人安排傳譯及／或翻譯服
務，或家長和兒童由懂中文的親友陪同會面，協助溝通。
為非華語兒童家長而設的查詢電話號碼及電郵地址
電話號碼: xxxx xxxx
電郵地址:ncs_enquiry@abckg.edu.hk E. 對非華語兒童的支援措施
XXXXXXXXX XXXXX
XXXX XXXXXX
ABC幼稚園- 收生資料
相片/圖片
主頁 學校簡介 最新消息 收生資料
Admission 聯絡我們
Please list the following
information on the school website prominently. The content of both
Chinese and
English versions of information should be consistent.
37
Examples of Website Design - Webpage providing information on admission arrangements
37
ABC幼稚園- 收生資料
相片/圖片
主頁 學校簡介 最新消息 收生資料Admission 聯絡我們 English Admission Information
A. Introduction of the School
XXXXXX XXXXXX
XXXXX XXXX
B. School-based Admission Arrangements
XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXX
XXX XXXX XXX C. School Fee Information
X XXX XXXXX XXXXXX
XXXX XX XXXX XXX XXXXXXX
D. Arrangement for admission application of Non-Chinese Speaking (NCS) Children
When interviewing NCS children, interpretation and/or translation service for applicants will be provided where necessary; or parents and children are allowed to be accompanied by a Chinese speaking relative/friend to facilitate communication.
Enquiry Telephone Number and Email Address for Parents of NCS Children
Tel No: xxxx xxxx
Email address:ncs_enquiry@abckg.edu.hk E. Support to Non-Chinese Speaking (NCS) Children
XXXX XXXXXX
XXXXXX XXXXXXX
F. Our school Information on Profile of Kindergartens and Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres (http://kgp2021.azurewebsites.net/edb/schoolinfo.php?lang=en&schid=xxxxxxx)
G. EDB’s website on Admission Arrangements for Nursery (K1) Classes in Kindergartens
Please list the following
information on the school website
prominently.
The content
of both
Chinese and English
versions of information should be consistent.
Measures
Equal opportunities for admission to KGs must be provided by KGs for all children (regardless of their race, gender and ability), including handling the applications from NCS children properly with due regard to the difference in their culture and customs from local practices.
If there are vacancies, KGs should continue to admit children with different backgrounds and needs.
(4) Admission Support for NCS Children
Measures
KGs should ensure that all staff involved in the admission procedures have a clear understanding of the measures catering for NCS children and their parents, and implement such measures properly, e.g. providing parents of NCS children with the English version of application form and admission guidelines. In this regard, the Equal Opportunities Commission has published an “Easy Guide on Promoting Racial Equality in Schools: Kindergarten Admission (Applicable to Kindergartens with Local Curriculum)”. For details, please refer to:
https://www.eoc.org.hk/EOC/Upload/Training%20and%20education/Teaching%20 resources/Leaflet_Admission_English.pdf
If interviews are arranged for NCS children/parents, KGs should arrange interpretation and/or translation service for applicants as necessary, or allow parents and children to be accompanied by a Chinese speaking relative/friend during the interview to facilitate communication. KGs should state explicitly the above-mentioned interview arrangements on the school website to inform parents of NCS children that the above assistance could be offered.
(4) Admission Support for NCS Children
Free-of-charge telephone interpretation service in ethnic minority languages provided by the Home Affairs Department-funded “Centre for Harmony and Enhancement of Ethnic Minority Residents (CHEER)”. The telephone
interpretation service hotlines are:
• 3755 6811 (Bahasa Indonesian)
• 3755 6822 (Nepali)
• 3755 6833 (Urdu)
• 3755 6844 (Punjabi)
Other interpretation and translation services:
• Schools can contact CHEER direct to gain more understanding on the
relevant services if deemed necessary. Please refer to the following webpage for details:
Centre for Harmony and Enhancement of Ethnic Minority Residents (CHEER Centre)
• 3755 6855 (Tagalog)
• 3755 6866 (Thai)
• 3755 6877 (Hindi)
• 3755 6888 (Vietnamese)
“Easy Guide on Promoting Racial Equality in Schools Kindergarten Admission ”
Equal Opportunities Commission hotline: 2511 8211
https://www.eoc.org.hk/EOC/Upload/Training%20and%20education/Teaching%20resourc es/Leaflet_Admission_English.pdf
Starting from the 2019/20 school year, we have refined the additional subsidy on support to NCS students. A 5-tiered subsidy is provided to Scheme-KGs according to the number of NCS students admitted to facilitate their support for NCS students.
KGs admitting 1 NCS student also receive the subsidy.
(4) Admission Support for NCS Children
Measures
Measures
Parents of NCS children are encouraged to send their children to KGs with an immersed Chinese language environment as early as possible to facilitate their learning of the Chinese language. In this connection, the Government has put in place a series of support measures for NCS children in KGs. The leaflet “Support for Non-Chinese Speaking Children” has been produced to introduce the relevant measures. The above-mentioned leaflet in languages of diverse race has been uploaded to the EDB’s website (Path: Education System and Policy > Kindergarten Education > Admission Arrangements for Nursery(K1) Classes in Kindergartens > Admission Arrangements for
Nursery (K1) Classes in Kindergartens for the 2023/24 School Year -
11.Related Support for Non-Chinese Speaking Children) for KGs to print and distribute to the parents of NCS children for their reference.
(4) Admission Support for NCS Children
Leaflet on Support for Non-Chinese Speaking Children
Measures
(EDB’s website >Education System and Policy >KG Education > Admission Arrangements for Nursery (K1) Classes in KGs > Admission Arrangements for Nursery (K1) Classes in Kindergartens for the 2023/24 School Year - 11. Related Support for Non-Chinese Speaking Children)
Measures
The EDB will collect information from KGs on K1 vacancies about a week after the Centralised
Registration Dates through an electronic platform for publishing in early February 2023.
Only the vacancy situation of individual KGs will be released but not the number of vacancy.
(5) Release of Vacancy Information
2023/24 K1 Admission Arrangements
Flowchart
2023/24 K1 Admission Arrangements Flowchart
Parents apply to the EDB for the RC from September to November 2022
KGs process
K1 admission applications for the 2023/24 School Year
KGs inform parents of the application result before 16 December 2022
If application is successful Upon receipt of the applications with all necessary information and
documents provided, the EDB will generally take six to eight weeks to
complete processing the applications and issue the RC / AP
to parents by post
If application is not successful
Parents refer to the K1 vacancy information released by the EDB after the Centralised Registration
Dates
(i.e. from early February 2023) Parents register with one KG during
the Centralised Registration Dates (i.e. 5 to 7 January 2023) by submitting the RC / AP and
paying registration fee
Leaflets and posters for application for Registration Certificate for KG Admission
Application forms of Registration Certificate for KG Admission
Guidance Notes on application for Registration Certificate for KG Admission
KGs may encourage parents to submit electronic application form online, or download the
application form for "Registration Certificate for
Kindergarten Admission"
The respective School Development Officers or Services Officers
The EDB
• Website: https://www.edb.gov.hk/k1-admission_e
• Hotline: 3540 6808 / 3540 6811
• Hotline for parents of non-Chinese speaking children : 2892 6676
