ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of early childhood education (ECE) in Hong Kong. It begins by tracing the development of ECE from a historical and socio-cultural perspective and considers factors that influence early childhood policies and practices. The chapter presents the state of ECE and focuses on the following: provision and funding; quality assurance and monitoring; teacher preparation; curricular models and approaches; and assessment of the quality of programs. It discusses services for three- to six-year-olds, which has been referred to as pre-primary education in Hong Kong. The chapter describes the evolution of pre-primary education in Hong Kong, and discusses future directions for the development of the sector. Pre-primary education in Hong Kong has progressively evolved amidst the changing socio-political, demographic, cultural and educational contexts. There are distinctive features found in the curricular and pedagogical approaches of kindergartens in Hong Kong that have embedded Chinese traditional values and beliefs around academic achievement and early learning.
