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PART VI CONCLUSIONS
placed by parents on the acquisition of a good education as a passport to success, that an apparent failure in the educational system should lead to a general chorus of criticism.
525. We are not qualified to investigate and comment at length on all the matters raised. Nevertheless, the following points appear to us to be significant.
(a) Provision of school places
526. The figures show that the number of school places has been increased in the past five years to a very substantial extent and it is hard to imagine what greater numerical progress could have been made by the authorities without a considerable increase in both finance and trained staff. Without these, any increase in numbers must result in a lowering of standards. In March 1961, 450,374 were enrolled in primary and 88,694 in secondary schools; in March 1966, the numbers were 636,455 in primary and 195,802 in secondary schools.
(b) Type of education
527. A common criticism directed at the social relevance of the education provided was that too large a proportion was geared to academic subjects with the aim of turning out white collar workers. Evidence was also given of the middle school leaver's frustrations when confronted with the unrewarding openings available to the superfluity of candidates for white-collar jobs; this was in contrast to statements by manufacturers and other employers on the shortage of technically educated young people with an interest in an industrial career.
528. This suggests that education is insufficiently adapted to the employment needs of Hong Kong, but the initially poor public response in the early years to the secondary modern schools designed to promote this adaption, indicates the need, when making a changeover, for considerable public education on the prospects available for blue collar workers and the importance of their work.
529. Particular significance attaches to the age group between 12-14; the latter is the minimum age for industrial employment and the generally acceptable age is 16. Consequently there can be considerable unrest and frustration amongst those completing primary school at 12 who, either through the limited number of secondary school places on for some other reason, are unable to enter secondary school, only to find that they cannot be employed in industry either. The White Paper on education has drawn attention to the existing policy of seeking to bridge this gap by making provision in primary schools for a further period of secondary education for those who wish to remain at school, but the evidence given to us would suggest the desirability of trying, in addition, to make more places available in vocational or technical training for young people in this age group.
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