Education voucher to increase
January 15, 2014
The pre-primary education voucher will be increased by $2,500 per year in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years, to ease the financial burden of kindergarten education.
Chief Executive CY Leung announced the plan in his 2014 Policy Address today, adding the Government will also increase the fee remission ceiling to help needy families.
A committee is studying the implementation of three-year free kindergarten education and will report its recommendations next year, he said.
Meanwhile, three assistance programmes will be provided to disadvantaged students, including free lunch for primary students under financial assistance schemes, an increase in textbook assistance, and subsidies for sub-degree students. The programmes will benefit 270,000 students.
Mr Leung said $200 million has been reserved to launch more after-school learning and support programmes for grassroots students, along with $300 million to sustain the child development fund and help more students in need.
Also, the Government will allocate additional resources to improve after-school care services and extend the neighbourhood support childcare project, he added.
