Hong Kong kindergartens in urban space: policy aspirations, historical trajectories and contemporary disparities

Yuen, Gail and Gallagher, Michael ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3858-0130 (2023) Hong Kong kindergartens in urban space: policy aspirations, historical trajectories and contemporary disparities. Children's Geographies. ISSN 1473-3285

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Abstract

This paper investigates problems of space in Hong Kong kindergartens. It reports findings from a survey carried out as part of a policy study relating to the Kindergarten Education Scheme (KES). This policy emphasizes holistic development and child-centred pedagogy, which require larger and more flexible spaces than traditional desk-based learning. The study aimed to explore how kindergartens were responding to the resulting challenges around providing adequate space within Hong Kong’s high density urban environment. Questionnaires were sent to principals of 751 KES kindergartens. 325 valid questionnaires were collected (response rate: 43.5%). Analysis comprised descriptive statistics, inferential tests (ANOVA and Chi-square) of relationships between operation mode and other variables, and coding of responses to open-ended questions. The paper highlights three key findings: (i) kindergartens reported a wide range of challenges relating to space; (ii) most augment their provision by using public spaces outside their premises, but these spaces come with their own challenges; and (iii) there were significant differences in the extent of reported problems between kindergartens operating in different modes, with long-whole-day kindergartens experiencing greater difficulty. This disparity is of concern because long-whole-day kindergartens tend to be used by lower socio-economic groups, so there is a risk of exacerbating disadvantage. Situating these findings in the historical context of Hong Kong’s uneven urban development, we argue that achieving the policy aspiration of improving spatial provision will require reducing pressures on kindergarten spaces, rather than merely setting out spatial standards.