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Kindergarten Education Scheme Support for Students’ Learning at Home
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Application for the Grant
Do It Yourself (DIY) Handicraft and Learning Package Scheme (Learning Package Scheme)
Q1: How should kindergartens (KGs) design the home learning activities for applying for the grant?
A1: KGs should, based on the schools’ specific situation, set appropriate learning goals and formulate details and strategies to engage students in learning at home. When designing the activities, on top of EDBCM No. 185/2020, KGs can make reference to the letter issued by the EDB to all KGs on 11 May 2020 about the strategies for kindergartens to support children's learning at home. (Home >Education System and Policy >Kindergarten Education >About Kindergarten Education >Other Information) (Webpage link: https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu- system/preprimary-kindergarten/about-preprimary-
kindergarten/KG%20Letter%20and%20Annex_E_20200511_Final.pdf)
The EDB also organised a seminar on “Principles and Experience Sharing on Supporting Kindergarten Children's Learning at Home” on 25 November 2020.
KGs may browse the content uploaded to the following EDB Webpage for reference. (Home >Education System and Policy >Kindergarten Education
>About Kindergarten Education >Resources > Experience Sharing)
(Webpage link: https://www.edb.gov.hk/tc/edu-system/preprimary- kindergarten/resources/teaching-resources/index.html) (Chinese Version Only) In addition, there are examples and choices available in the application form (Annex to Appendix 2) in the EDBCM No. 185/2020 for KGs’ reference.
While e-learning is clearly emphasised by the EDB that it is not suitable for KG students and real-time online teaching is, in principle, not supported at KG level, KGs should design learning activities in line with the principle of child-centredness and ensure that the contents are appropriate to students’ interests, abilities and learning needs.
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Q2: Can KGs change the plan after approval of the application?
A2: When implementing the scheme, KGs are recommended to conduct school self- evaluation continuously, and modify the details and strategies of the plan in accordance to school situation and children’s needs. KGs are required to submit a summary report after completion of the scheme.
Q3: What do KGs have to do upon completion of the scheme(s)?
A3: Upon completion of the scheme(s), KGs should submit a report to the EDB. The template of the report is attached to Appendix 3 in EDBCM No. 185/2020. KGs have to retain the design of the related activity and learning package so as to share the deliverables with other KGs where appropriate.
Q4: Can KGs choose not to apply for the “Learning Package Scheme”?
A4: Yes. Yet, if KGs plan not applying for the“Learning Package Scheme”, they have to consider how they make use of the existing resources to provide students with more diversified materials, in accordance to their needs, for facilitating them to make DIY handicraft and designing home learning activities in greater diversity so as to sustain students’ learning interests. Also, if there is any enquiry, schools have to explain to parents the reasons of not applying for the grant.
B. Usage of the Grant
Q5: Can KGs combine or interchange the use of the grants of the two schemes?
A5: No. KGs have to ensure that all the grants should be used for expenses related to the two schemes. The “Gift Book Scheme” aims at cultivating children’s reading interest and promote reading culture. KGs have to implement different measures to encourage children’s reading at home, parent-child reading, and book sharing with peers. The “Learning Package Scheme” is to make use of different resources to design diversified activities based on the school situation aiming at facilitating home learning. The content and the objectives of the two grants are not the same, hence, KGs are not allowed to combine or interchange the use of the grants.
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Gift Book Scheme
Q6: What are the differences between the grant for “Gift Book Scheme” and the one for “Promotion of Reading Grant for Kindergartens”?
A6: The grant for “Gift Book Scheme” is a one-off grant. It aims at providing KGs with a grant to purchase one printed book as a gift for each student in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 school years. To enjoy the fun of reading, KGs have to implement different measures in a safe situation to encourage children’s reading at home or have book sharing with peers. The one for “Promotion of Reading Grant for Kindergartens” is a regular grant, not only for procurement of reading resources, but also for organising school-based activities and hiring of services related to the promotion of reading.
Q7: How does the EDB compile the “Designated Book List”? Can KGs select books other than the items on the list?
A7: The “Designated Book List” is compiled with reference to the suggested books from the EDB and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The books are also selected by considering the possibility to immerse into the real-life learning themes in KGs, story plot, whether it is interesting, and price. The book list has been uploaded to the EDB Webpage (Home >Education System and Policy
>Kindergarten Education > Kindergarten Education Scheme >Circular) (Webpage link: https://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/preprimary- kindergarten/free-quality-kg-edu/index.html )
To facilitate book selection and cater for the different needs and interests of children, the books are categorised into four themes, including nature and living, Chinese history and culture, moral education, and healthy living. For books with other translated version(s) or being a volume of a collection, KGs have to refer to the International Standard Numbers (ISBN) stated on the list.
Q8: Are there any requirements from the EDB on the number of themes selected and the total number of each book purchased?
A8: KGs can select books with reference to students’ interests and abilities based on their school situations and operational needs. In principle, there is no fixed purchasing quantity of each book. Students are encouraged to exchange books as appropriate subject to the situation to have an extensive reading on different
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themes. To cater for the diverse needs of students, schools are hence not advised to make bulk purchase on limited items.
Q9: As book prices vary, is it necessary to give each student a book of the same value?
A9 : As the book prices vary, the amount of grant allocated to each school will be $100 per student (for purchasing 1 book for each student) in each of the 2020/21 and 2021/22 school year. KGs are reminded that the amount of $100 per student is used as the basis for grant calculation. It does not mean providing each student with $100 to purchase books, nor does it guarantee that students can receive printed books of the same value. KGs are also not allowed to deliver the grant to parents for their own purchase of books.
Q10: Can KGs use the surplus of the grant to buy extra books for students?
A10: The provision of the grant aims to cultivate students’ reading interest and promote reading culture in KGs. If there is surplus after purchasing for each student one printed book in each of the 2020/21 and 2021/22 school year, depending on school situation and students’ needs, KGs can fully use the grant to purchase extra items from the “Designated Book List” as gifts for students. Yet, clear criteria (e.g.
exclusive to newly-admitted students in a school year or replacing the worn-out items due to book exchange) should be set and parents should be well-informed for the arrangement.
Q11: Are there any suggested activities for KGs to organise after purchasing the books? Is it necessary to organise extended reading activities?
A11: Aiming at extending children’s exposure to different kinds of books as well as enriching their reading experience, KGs can decide on how they use the books according to school situation. For example, book exchange with peers can be arranged for students under safe condition to facilitate reading on different themes, activities can be designed in accordance to the content of the books, or encouragement of parent-child reading.
Q12: Can KGs collaborate with schools of the same school sponsoring bodies/operators for book exchange activities? Also, can KGs form a network within the same district to exchange books?
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A12: Depending on the epidemic situation, book exchange with peers can be arranged for students under safe condition to facilitate reading on different themes.
Do It Yourself (DIY) Handicraft and Learning Package Scheme Q13: Are there any considerations when KGs use the grant?
A13: KGs should design home learning activities, according to school situation, in line with the principle of child-centredness and ensure that the contents are appropriate to students’ interests, abilities and learning needs, for instance, facilitating students to accomplish some simple, relaxing and interesting tasks or parent-child activities.
KGs can use the grant to prepare materials and guidelines for facilitating students to make DIY handicraft, or produce home learning packages for students.
Yet, this grant should not be used for procurement of electronic equipment (such as computers, video-cameras), or purchase of services in relation to electronic devices or e-learning. KGs are also not allowed to use this grant for hiring staff.
Outsourcing the work of designing learning activities and learning materials, drafting guidelines, preparing demonstration, etc., to any external organisations, are also not allowed. Procurement of services is only allowed after teachers have completed the abovementioned design, guidelines and demonstration, and mass production of deliverables is needed for students.
KGs can refer to Appendix 2 in EDBCM No. 185/2020 for the details of the
“Learning Package Scheme”.
Q14: Can KGs use the grant to purchase books for encouraging students to read at home or to have interactive activities with parents?
A14: KGs can use the grant of “Learning Package Scheme” to purchase books from the
“Designated Book List”, or make reference to the principles on “Choosing appropriate reading materials for children” stipulated in the EDBCM No.
185/2020. Books are one of the resources to facilitate children’s home learning, KGs should design home learning activities related to the books so as to support children’s learning.
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Q15: Can KGs use the grant to organise teacher training or parent education activities on home-learning?
A15: The purpose of the grant is to strengthen the support for students’ learning at home.
KGs are recommended to organise activities that bring direct benefits to students.
KGs can base on their school situation to design simple, relaxing and interesting tasks or parent-child activities to support parents to play with their children at home and promote interaction among family members.
Q16: Can KGs collaborate with KGs under the same school sponsoring bodies/operators for designing home learning packages or procuring relevant materials?
A16: Yes. School sponsoring bodies/operators can play a coordinating and leading role to assist their KGs to design activities and develop materials collaboratively to leverage the synergy. Yet, as school situations and students’ needs are different, KGs should design the activities and formulate the strategies in accordance with the school-based circumstances.
Q17: Will the grant be retracted if face-to-face classes are resumed later?
A17: No. The grant is for KGs to support students’ learning at home in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 school years. KGs can still keep on designing learning packages and procuring relevant resources even face-to-face classes are resumed. KGs should prepare in advance to ensure children can sustain learning interests other than face-to-face classes, facilitate them to continue to develop life skills and acquire knowledge, as well as instilling positive values.
