[40th Anniversary Seminar Series]
“Parents versus Preschools: Lessons from Hong Kong” by Professor Nirmala Rao

As part of the Faculty’s 40^th Anniversary Seminar Series, the captioned seminar was delivered by Professor Nirmala Rao of the Faculty’s Academic Unit of Human Communication, Learning, and Development, and moderated by Professor Catherine K. K. Chan of the Academic Unit of Social Contexts and Policies of Education. This event, held on April 10, 2025, attracted about 200 participants from various countries and backgrounds joining online and offline.

The seminar commenced with opening remarks by Professor Yang Rui, Dean of the Faculty, who underscored the Faculty’s distinguished history and internationalised nature. During Professor Nirmala Rao’s presentation, she emphasised that the early years of a child's life are critical for brain development, with 90% of brain growth occurring by the age of five. Professor Rao illustrated how both home environments and preschool experiences significantly influence child development. She pointed out that high-quality preschool education is essential for bridging socioeconomic gaps and supporting children from disadvantaged backgrounds or with special needs. Professor Rao stressed the importance of collaboration between parents and preschools in fostering optimal child development, and advocated for the use of play-based pedagogy as an effective strategy to enhance learning. In addition, Professor Rao discussed the impact of education policies, calling for equitable access to quality early childhood education across all communities.

In the subsequent discussion led by Professor Catherine K. K. Chan, participants actively shared their experiences and perspectives, exploring the challenges and opportunities within Hong Kong’s education landscape. The session sparked a thought-provoking dialogue, promoting the idea of continued collaboration among educators, policymakers, and families to create an inclusive and effective learning environment for all children.

The video recording of this seminar is now available on our website: 

https://web.edu.hku.hk/event/detail-page/seminar-series-Apr2025.