Career Talk Emphasises Passion
Students should choose a career path they are passionate about, according to distinguished EdUHK alumnus, Dr Fung Wai Man. Speaking to around 40 postgraduate student, Dr Fung made the comments while reflecting on her role as the District Principal of the Creative Kindergarten and Day Nursery. The seminar held on November 10 centred on two main themes: “ The current situation of Kindergarten Education in Hong Kong, China,” and “The Professionalism of Kindergarten Educators”.
Dr Fung opened the session by telling aspiring educators that “As long as you truly love children, everything will feel effortless!” Dr Fung then provided an overview of the field, explaining that there are over 980 kindergartens in Hong Kong, China, with an enrollment rate of nearly 100% for children aged 3 to 5. She reviewed the three major reform milestones in Hong Kong, China’s early childhood education and pointed out that the current system and curriculum have achieved integration.
When analysing industry trends, Dr Fung mentioned that Hong Kong, China’s early childhood education sector is facing challenges due to declining birth rates and increasing demand for full-day services. She said that, “The future development direction will focus more on students with special needs, aligning with primary school’s integrated education policy and changes in the social language environment to enhance Putonghua teaching.” Dr Fung also emphasised the importance of parental education, advocating that “modelling is more effective than verbal instruction,” especially before the age of 8. Such approaches, she explained, “Encourage parents to invest time in building a good relationship with their children, which better prepares them for further growth.
Dr Fung introduced the basic requirements and core competencies needed for kindergarten teachers and said that students without an early childhood education background should leverage their personal strengths. She pointed out that job opportunities include specialisations such as music, physical education, and the arts. While some students expressed concern about their Cantonese language proficiency, Dr Fung mentioned that there is also demand for Putonghua speakers. Dr Fung concluded the talk by encouraging students to avoid mental obstacles by exploring diverse routes.
