Purposes of Early Childhood Education: expressed views of teachers and parents in Hong Kong

Abstract

This article reports on a study of 100 Chinese parents and 100 Chinese teachers in Hong Kong who were interviewed on a range of questions relating to their views on the purposes of early childhood education. In Hong Kong early childhood education refers to kindergartens and nursery centres. The administrative division in Hong Kong between kindergarten and nursery centres leads to community views whereby nurseries are perceived as being child minding centres only. The study analyses and compares the views of both parents and teachers showing where congruence and differences occur.