HONG KONG CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEMORANDUM ON COMPULSORY PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR HONG KONG
HIK left 18245
April 30, 1970
PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES
The primary education system in Hong Kong is a six-year primary school course which normally begins at the age of six.
In the Hong Kong Education Department's "Brief Account of the Educational System with Statistical Summary" of September 1969, it is stated on pagú 2 as follows:
"For planning purpose a target figure was set in 1965 to provide by 1970/71 an aided education for 80% of all children of primary school age. However, it is now certain that a Government or a subsidized primary school place will be available for every child of primary school age by late 1970."
In the Hong Kong Annual Report 1969, the statement is also made on page 80 as follows:
"It is now certain that the target of providing a government or subsidized primary school place for every child of primary school age will be reached by late 1970."
TOO MANY VACANCIES
As of September 30, 1969, the total number of vacancies in Government and aided primary day schools were as follows:
In operating classrooms
...
...
...
In vacant classrooms in schools which were not yet fully
developed
TOTAL
...
40,585
52,811 93,396
These figures were supplied to the Hong Kong Civic Association in a letter dated December 1, 1969 from the Education Department, Hong Kong.
In addition to the above 93,396 vacant places in government and aided primary day schools, there were at that time approximately 15,000 vacant primary places in private day schools plus about 5,000 vacant places in private primary night schools.
CHILDREN NOT IN SCHOOL
As of May 1969, the Civic Association estimated that the number of primary age school children between the ages of 6-11 not in school was about 80,000:
(A) Children under age of six as at September 1968 (the
enrolment month) who could not enter a government or subsidized primary school as they had not yet reached the age of six
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...
...
(B) Drop-outs after 2-5 years primary education (C) Excluding Group (A), those between 6-11 who had not
been to any school at all
25,000 45,000
...
10,000
TOTAL
...
80,000