The suggested age for a child to enter the education system is 5 years. The age in private preschools may even be as low as 3 years, as the period of preschool attendance is further extended to three years. Preschool education became part of the primary school system in 1979, and since then most of the children at age 5 enrol in preschool classes for one year before being admitted to grade 1.
Five major aspects are taken into account in the teaching and learning process at the preschool level so as to provide opportunities to children to: enjoy exploring things around them; develop physically, emotionally and socially; develop cognitively and intellectually; develop their language skills; express their creativity and enjoy participating in creative activities. Lessons are held on an informal basis. There is no specific allocation time period per lesson since teaching is integrated and delivered through children’s activities. Children’s abilities are continuously assessed and they are generally promoted to lower primary automatically.
According to MOE statistics, in 2008 there were 3,810 children (of whom
1,848 were girls) in government preschools/preschool classes and an additional 7,775 children (of whom 3,836 girls) in private preschools/preschool classes. There were
236 teachers (of whom 222 women) in government preschools and 445 teachers (of whom 435 women) in private preschools. Some 1,127 children were in private nurseries.