Prof Nirmala Rao, Serena H.C. Yang Professor in Early Childhood Development and Education, and Chair Professor of Child Development and Education has given a seminar on topic “Parents versus Preschools: Lessons from Hong Kong” for the Faculty of Education 40th Anniversary Seminar Series at HKU.
This presentation delves into a pivotal question in early childhood development. What matters more for early development – parents or preschools? Is what parents have and what they do more important than what teachers do and educational policy? Hong Kong, celebrated for its high-performing early education system, offers a unique backdrop to answer these questions. Despite its high-quality early education system, parents do not want children to be left behind at the starting gate of school. Consequently, the response to whether parents or preschools play a more crucial role in early development is complex and multifaceted.
