Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme

The Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme (hereafter referred to as the 'Voucher Scheme') provides fee subsidy for parents/legal guardians/registered custodians to meet towards school fees for pre-primary education of eligible children in the form of pre-primary education vouchers. Children who attend nursery, lower or upper classes in eligible local non-profit-making kindergartens or Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres (hereafter collectively referred to as kindergartens) may benefit from the Voucher Scheme. Parents may refer to the Profile of Kindergartens and Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres, accessible at http://chsc.edb.hkedcity.net/kindergarten/, for information on the list of kindergartens joining the Voucher Scheme.

Eligibility Criteria 2008/09

Hong Kong residents with right of abode, right to land or valid permission to remain without any condition of stay (other than limit of stay) in Hong Kong; and

born on or before 31 December 2005 and will be attending kindergarten classes in the 2008/09 school year. Those who were born on or after 1 January 2006 is not eligible to apply for the Voucher Scheme for the 2008/09 school year.

The Voucher Scheme is not applicable to children holding two-way exit permits, student visas, visitor visas or who are dependents of non-local students/ student-visa /visitor-visa holders.

Children currently in receipt of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) need not apply on their own for the Voucher Scheme. The SWD will attend to the applications of these children collectively and refer them to the Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) for further processing where appropriate.

Children currently benefiting from the Child Care Centre Fee Assistance Scheme (CCCFAS) of the SWD who opt for the Voucher Scheme will not be eligible for assistance under the CCCFAS again.

Application Procedures 2008/09

"Application for Assessment of Eligibility for the Pre-primary Education Voucher" is family-based. Each family should submit one application only. Applicants must be parents of the student-applicants.

Applicants should only provide particulars of children who were born on or before 31 December 2005 and who will be attending kindergarten classes in 2008/09 in the application form.

Data provided must be supported by copies of relevant documents. Insufficient information may lead to delay in processing and/or invalidation of an application.

The following application documents are available at the District Offices, the Post Offices, the Regional Education Offices of the Education Bureau (EDB) and the SFAA –

"Application for Assessment of Eligibility for the Pre-primary Education Voucher" [SFAA 244E];

"Guidance Notes on Application for Assessment of Eligibility for the Pre-primary Education Voucher" [SFAA 245E]; and

Acknowledgement of Application [SFAA 247].

The documents can also be downloaded from the EDB's homepage at www.edb.gov.hk or the SFAA's homepage at www.sfaa.gov.hk.

Completed application form and copies of the relevant supporting documents may be submitted by post to the SFAA at TSTPO Box 95161, Kowloon. Sufficient postage must be affixed for proper delivery of mail.

Applicant may also enclose the documents in an envelope, sealed with front cover labelled "Application for the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme (2008/09)" and drop it into the drop-in box of the SFAA on 12/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon.

Notification of Result

The SFAA will generally take 6 to 8 weeks upon receipt of the application and all necessary information to complete processing of the application. The SFAA will inform applicants of the results by post. Each eligible child will be issued with a "Certificate of Eligibility".

Applicants who wish to receive the Certificates of Eligibility for the Voucher Scheme for their children attending kindergarten before the beginning of the 2008/09 school year are advised to apply for assessment of eligibility for the pre-primary education voucher on or before 31 May 2008.

Procedures to obtain fee subsidy with the Certificate of Eligibility

Original of the Certificate of Eligibility must be presented to the eligible kindergarten which the child is enrolled upon the request of the kindergarten so that the kindergarten can arrange for voucher redemption with the EDB and parents can at the same time receive fee subsidy.

Review Mechanism

If applicants disagree with the result of the assessment, they may apply in writing to the SFAA for re-assessment within 30 calendar days from the issue date of the notification of result, providing detailed justifications and documentary evidence in support of their application. The application for re-assessment must be duly signed by the applicant. The SFAA will not accept any late submission for re-assessment of eligibility. Re-assessment of eligibility normally takes 90 days.

Enquiry

Applicants may visit the EDB homepage at www.edb.gov.hk for details of the Voucher Scheme or the SFAA homepage at www.sfaa.gov.hk for information on application. For enquiries on individual applications, applicants may also call the following enquiry hotlines -

The "Certificate of Eligibility" is to certify the eligibility of the child for the pre-primary education voucher. Each Certificate has a unique certificate number. The name, date of birth and identity document number of the eligible child as well as the validity period of the Certificate will be shown on the Certificate.

The validity period of the Certificate of Eligibility is determined on the basis of the kindergarten classes the eligible children are attending in 2008/09, and will normally range from 1 to 3 years. Examples are illustrated in the table below -

Each child is provided with a maximum of three years of fee subsidy under the Voucher Scheme. The validity period of the Certificate will normally not be extended.

Children reaching the age of 6 or above should normally attend primary schools and should apply for admission to Primary One.

Successful applicant shall, during the validity period of the Certificate and for a period of one year thereafter, maintain all information and documents relating to this application for inspection, verification, or otherwise for the purpose of administration and monitoring the operation of the Voucher Scheme.

Loss or damage of the Certificate of Eligibility must be reported to the SFAA immediately (tel. no.: 2154 2130) so that the SFAA can void the Certificate. Eligible applicant may apply for re-issue of the Certificate of Eligibility from the SFAA at cost.

Holder of the Certificate of Eligibility needs not re-apply for the Voucher Scheme within the validity period as specified in the Certificate.

In order to benefit from the Voucher Scheme, parents should apply for assessment of eligibility for the Voucher Scheme for their children in the first instance. Pupils assessed to be eligible for the Voucher Scheme will receive a Certificate of Eligibility for the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme. By presenting the original of the Certificate to the kindergarten which their children are attending and which is eligible for voucher redemption, the kindergarten may redeem the voucher from the Education Bureau to subsidise parents in paying school fee.

Application forms and guidance notes are available at the District Offices, the Post Offices, the Regional Education Offices of the EDB and the SFAA. Application forms and related documents may also be downloaded from the homepage of the EDB at www.edb.gov.hk or the homepage of the SFAA at www.sfaa.gov.hk.

Parents may send the duly completed application form together with copies of necessary identity documents by post to the SFAA, TSTPO Box 95161, Kowloon. Alternatively, parents may enclose all relevant documents in an envelope, sealed and labelled "Application for the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme (2008/09)" and drop it into the drop-in box at the office of the SFAA on 12/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon.

The Voucher Scheme is now open to application. As it takes time to process applications, parents wishing to receive the Certificates of Eligibility for the Voucher Scheme for their children attending kindergarten before the beginning of the 2008/09 school year are advised to apply on or before 31 May 2008.

For parents who have completed the Acknowledgement of Application (SFAA 247) and returned it together with the application form to the SFAA, the SFAA will mail the Acknowledgement of Application to the parents within ten working dates from the postal date of the application to confirm receipt of the application.

Upon receipt of the application and all necessary information, the SFAA will generally take six to eight weeks to complete processing of the application. The SFAA will inform parents of the results by post. Each eligible pupil will receive a Certificate of Eligibility while unsuccessful applicants will be informed of the result by way of a notification letter. Enquiries about individual applications may be directed to the SFAA's hotline at 2154 2130.

Under normal circumstances, the SFAA will issue to each eligible child a Certificate of Eligibility with a suitable validity period that will tie in with the period of study of the pupil to complete the pre-primary education. Those already issued with a Certificate of Eligibility need NOT re-apply for the Voucher Scheme within the validity period as specified in the Certificate.

To join the Voucher Scheme, pupils must be Hong Kong residents with right of abode, right to land or valid permission to remain without any conditions of stay (other than limit of stay) in Hong Kong. The Voucher Scheme is not applicable to children holding visitor visas, two-way exit permits, student visas or who are dependants of visitor-visa or student-visa holders. The Voucher Scheme is also not applicable to children holding forms of recognizance.

As regards age, to tie in with the minimum age for admission to primary one, children must be aged 2 years and 8 months or above as at 31 August of the year of school admission to be eligible to apply for the Voucher Scheme. In other words, those attending kindergartens in the 2008/09 school year must be aged 2 years and 8 months or above as at 31 August 2008 (i.e. born on or before 31 December 2005).

Those born between 1 January and 31 December 2006 should apply for the Voucher Scheme in the 2009/10 school year.

Children, who are Hong Kong residents with right of abode, right to land, or valid permission to remain without any condition of stay (other than limit of stay) in Hong Kong, are eligible to apply for the Voucher Scheme, regardless of the ethnicity.

What kind of documents should be submitted in applying for the Voucher Scheme?

Applicant and his/her spouse have to provide copies of their Hong Kong identity cards in applying for the Voucher Scheme. If this is not available, applicant and/or his/her spouse should provide copies of other valid identity documents e.g. copies of their valid travel documents or identity documents issued by other authorities.

As for the child, if he/she was born in Hong Kong, the applicant should submit a copy of the Hong Kong Birth Certificate of the child. If the word "Established" is shown in the "Status of Permanent Resident" column of the Birth Certificate, the applicant needs not provide other documentary proof.

However, if the "Status of Permanent Resident" is "Not Established", apart from providing a copy of the Hong Kong Birth Certificate of the child (if applicable), the applicant should provide one of the following valid identity documents of the child –

If the identity document of the child belongs to category (6) or (7) above, the applicant, his/her spouse and the child have to produce their own valid travel documents (pages showing the bearer’s particulars, the latest visa label issued by the Immigration Department of HKSAR Government and the latest "Permission to remain" stamp issued by the Immigration Department indicating the latest period of lawful stay of the applicant, his/her spouse and the child) to the SFAA as well.

Should children who are eligible for fee remission under the KCFRS in the 2007/08 school year apply for the Voucher Scheme in the 2008/09 school year, or simply apply for the KCFRS (2008/09)?

Parents with children who will attend kindergarten classes in the 2008/09 school year are advised to apply for joining the 2008/09 Voucher Scheme first. If their children are found eligible for joining the Voucher Scheme but the fee subsidy from the Scheme is not adequate to cover the tuition fee, and the family is financially in need, applicants may consider applying for the KCFRS at a later stage. Details about application for the KCFRS (2008/09) will be available in around July 2008.

Children holding the Certificates of Eligibility, who transfer to a kindergarten other than a local non-profit-making kindergarten which is eligible for voucher redemption in the 2008/09 school year, can neither receive fee subsidy under the Voucher Scheme nor apply for additional assistance from the KCFRS in the new school.

If the applicant's family is receiving assistance under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme (CSSA) of the SWD, should the applicant's children apply for the Voucher Scheme?

Children currently in receipt of the CSSA do not have to apply on their own for the Voucher Scheme. The SWD will attend to the applications of these children collectively and refer them to the SFAA for further processing where appropriate.

If children previously in receipt of the CSSA cease to be eligible for the Scheme in the middle of a school year, could they apply for the Voucher Scheme?

Families who cease to be eligible for the CSSA in the middle of a school year and whose children have not yet been issued with the Certificate of Eligibility through the SWD's referral may apply to the SFAA direct for joining the Voucher Scheme in order to receive subsidy for their children studying in kindergartens. In parallel, parents of needy families may also apply for additional assistance under the KCFRS in case the fee subsidy under the Voucher Scheme is inadequate to cover the entire amount of tuition fee. After receiving the Certificate of Eligibility, the parent should present the Certificate to the kindergarten so that the kindergarten may apply for voucher redemption from the Education Bureau.

Can children currently benefiting from the Child Care Centre Fee Assistance Scheme (CCCFAS) of the SWD apply for the Voucher Scheme in the 2008/09 school year ?

Children currently benefiting from the CCCFAS may opt for joining the Voucher Scheme in the 2008/09 school year. However, once they have opted for the Voucher Scheme, they are no longer eligible for assistance under the CCCFAS.

If parents do not send their children to kindergartens or choose to arrange their children to attend a kindergarten other than an eligible local non-profit-making kindergarten in 2008/09 after receiving the Certificate of Eligibility for their children, will they receive any other form of subsidy?

Children who successfully applied for the Certificate of Eligibility in the 2008/09 school year will be eligible for fee subsidy only when they attend eligible local non-profit-making kindergartens. Their parents will not receive any other form of subsidy if their children do not attending kindergarten or attend a kindergarten not eligible for voucher redemption.

Certificate of Eligibility for the Voucher Scheme

Please explain the special arrangements the Government put in place to cater for students who have all along been in receipt of fee remission under the KCFRS before and after the introduction of the PEVS but are studying in kindergartens not eligible for the PEVS.

On consideration that needy parents whose children are studying in kindergartens not eligible to join the PEVS may encounter financial difficulty in arranging the transfer of their children to other kindergartens, transitional arrangements are provided for KCFRS recipients who have become eligible for subsidy under KCFRS since 2006/07 and who continue to study in these kindergartens. The 'no worse off' principle is applied so that they will continue to receive fee remission under the KCFRS in the 2007/08 school year until their completion of the pre-primary education in the same kindergarten.

Could children currently enrolled in K3 but do not meet the minimum age requirement to enroll to Primary One as of 1st September 2008 apply for the Voucher Scheme in 2008/09 to continue their study in kindergarten?

They can apply for the Voucher Scheme in 2008/09. Successful applicants will receive a Certificate of Eligibility which is valid for one year.

For children currently enrolled in K2 who do not attain the minimum age requirement to enroll to Primary One as of 1st September 2009, will their Certificate of Eligibility be valid for one or two years if they have successfully applied for the Voucher Scheme in 2008/09?

In consideration of the fact that these children will not attain the minimum age for admission to Primary One in 2009/10, successful applicants will receive a Certificate of Eligibility which is valid for two years, from 2008/09 to the end of 2009/10. They can choose to continue to study in kindergarten classes before enrolling to primary one in 2010/11.

Should the original of the Certificate of Eligibility be kept by the kindergarten the child enroll and if yes, will the kindergarten return the original to the child concerned upon transfer?

Children holding the Certificate of Eligibility should present their original copy to the kindergarten they enroll so that kindergartens could redeem the voucher. The Certificate of Eligibility would be kept by the kindergarten the child enrolls and kindergartens would issue a receipt to the parents.

Upon childrens' graduation or transfer/termination of studies in the middle of a school year, the kindergartens should return the original copy of the Certificate of Eligibility to the parents. If a child transfers to another eligible kindergarten during the validity period, his/her parent can submit the Certificate of Eligibility to the new school so that the kindergarten can redeem the voucher.

Children already holding Certificate of Eligibility for the Voucher Scheme

If parents have already been issued with a Certificate of Eligibility in the 2007/08 school year with a validity period beyond this school year, do they have to apply again to the SFAA for the Voucher Scheme in the 2008/09 school year?

No. Parents can continue to use the Certificate of Eligibility for voucher redemption in the 2008/09 school year. They do not have to make an application again.

If a pupil holding a valid Certificate of Eligibility transfers from one kindergarten to another during the 2008/09 school year, will the pupil still be eligible for fee subsidy? Is it necessary to make a fresh application for the Voucher Scheme?

If a pupil holding a valid Certificate of Eligibility transfers during the 2008/09 school year from one kindergarten to another local non-profit-making kindergarten eligible for voucher redemption, the pupil will still be eligible for fee subsidy under the Voucher Scheme in the new school. His/her parents should request for return of the Certificate of Eligibility from the previous school upon transfer and produce the original of the Certificate of Eligibility to the new school. Fresh application for the Voucher Scheme is not required.

No. Starting from the 2008/09 school year, a child will be eligible for fee subsidy under the Voucher Scheme only if he/she is enrolled in or transfers to an eligible local non-profit-making kindergarten. Pupil transferring to a kindergarten, other than a local non-profit-making kindergarten which is eligible for voucher redemption, in the 2008/09 school year can neither receive fee subsidy under the Voucher Scheme nor apply for the KCFRS in the new school.

Yes. A child who is already attending a private independent kindergarten eligible for voucher redemption in the 2007/08 school year and continues to receive pre-primary education in the same kindergarten will be eligible for fee subsidy under the Voucher Scheme during the whole validity period. In addition, if the child transfers during the 2008/09 school year to another eligible local non-profit kindergarten, he/she will continue to be eligible for fee subsidy under the Voucher Scheme in the new school. However, if the child transfers to another private independent kindergarten next year, he/she will no longer be eligible for fee subsidy in the new school.

Parents can choose to send their children holding the Certificate of Eligibility to kindergarten for pre-primary education according to their circumstances during the validity period of the Certificate. The Certificate of Eligibility is redeemable within the validity period and will expire afterwards. Under normal circumstances, the Government will not extend the validity period of the Certificate of Eligibility.

The maximum validity period of the Certificate of Eligibility is three years. The validity period of the Certificate will not normally be extended.

Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission Scheme

Upon implementation of the Voucher Scheme, parents with children eligible for the Voucher Scheme who are financially in need may apply for additional financial assistance in the form of fee remission under the KCFRS for their children attending kindergartens eligible for joining the Voucher Scheme. Provided the parents can pass the means test, their children can receive assistance under the KCFRS on top of the fee subsidy from the Voucher Scheme. The formula for calculating the fee remission amount is as follows and the formula is also applicable to the 2008/09 school year:

Fee remission ceilings for the KCFRS for children attending nursery, lower or upper classes in the 2007/08 school year are:
Half-day class : $16,000 per student per annum
Whole-day class : $25,400 per student per annum

Needy parents with children attending day creches, day nurseries or relevant classes in kindergarten-cum-child care centres who are not covered by the Voucher Scheme will continue to receive remission under the KCFRS in accordance with the way this was computed prior to the introduction of the PEVS provided the applicant can pass the means test and the social needs test of the KCFRS.

If an applicant who is eligible for fee subsidy under the Voucher Scheme in 2008/09 intends to apply for additional financial assistance under the KCFRS, how should he/she lodge his/her application?

The applicant should pay attention to details of application for the KCFRS in the 2008/09 school year to be announced by the SFAA in due course. The announcement will be made in around July 2008. For enquiries, please visit the SFAA's homepage at www.sfaa.gov.hk or call 2154 2130.

To ensure that past KCFRS beneficiaries will not be worse off, the Government has put in place arrangements to cater for needy kindergarten children who have become recipients of the KCFRS at different school years and attending different types of kindergartens. Details are as follows –

Children who become eligible to apply for the Voucher Scheme in the 2008/09 school year will be able to receive assistance from the two schemes only when they are studying in an eligible local non-profit-making kindergarten and can pass the means test. No special arrangement will be provided.