REGIS
No.51
21 FIAT 1774
WXK 92
1 -
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 197
30
INCREASED TEXTBOOK SUBSIDIES FOR NEEDY PUPILS
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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE TEXTBOOKS AND STATIONERY GRANT AND THE CAPITATION GRANT TO SUBSIDIZED PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO HELP NIEDY PUPILS AND TO HELP THE FILANCES OF THE SCHOOLS.
THE TEXTBOOKS AND STATIONERY GRANT HAS BEEN INCREAVED FROM $20 TO $30 AND THE CAPITATION GRANT FROM $20 TU $20 FOR EACH PUPIL EACH YEAR.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT THE REVISIONS WERE MADE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF GENERAL PRICE INCREASES SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GRANTS.
THE TEXTBOOKS AND STATIONERY GRANT, WHICH IS INTENDED TO HELP PUPILS TO MEET EXPENSES FOR TEXTBOOKS AND STATIONERY, WAS INTRODUCED IN 1968.
IN GOVERNMENT CHINESE PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND IN SUBSIDIZED PRIMARY SCHOOLS WHERE NO FEES ARE CHARGED, THE GRANT IS PAYABLE TU UP TO 20 PER CENT OF THE PUPILS IN THE SCHOOL.
IN SUBSIDIZED PRIMARY SCHOOLS WHERE FEES ARE CHARGED, THE GRANT 13 MADE TO FREE-PLACE HOLDERS AND IN SUBSIDIZED SPECIAL SCHOOLS, IT IS PAYABLE TO UP TO 30 PER CENT OF THE SCHOOLS' PUPILS.
THE CAPITATION GRANT WAS INTRODUCED IN SEPTEMBER 1971 WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION IN HONG KONG.
IT IS MADE TO SCHOOLS TO COVER THEIR EXPENDITURE PREVIOUSLY MET FROM 'TUNG FAI' AND OTHER SUBSIDY CHARGES TO PUPILS.
THIS EXPENDITURE IS FOR CONSUMABLE STORES, EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, INSURANCE, COST OF MAJOR REPAIRS TO THE SCHOOL BUILDING AND REPLACEMENT OF FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT.
'SUBSIDIZED PRIMARY SCHOOLS, WHICH DO NOT NOW CHARGE THEIR PUPILS ARE PAID A GRANT OF $26 BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR EACH PUPIL EACH YEAR.
AT THE SAME TIME, FOR SCHOOLS WHICH DO NOT CHARGE FŒES, THEIR CONTRIBUTION FROM THIS GRAIT TOMAIDS MAJOR REPAIRS TO THE SCHOOL BUILDING AND REPLACEMENT OF FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN REDUCED FRUM 50 PER CENT TO 20 PER CENT.
+THEY WILL THUS BE ENCOURAGED TO CARRY OUT PROPER MAINTENANCE OF THEIR PREMISES BY HAVING TO CONTRIBUT. LESS FROM THE GRANT, + THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
TO MAKE UP FOR THE DECREASE IN THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON THESE MAINTENANCE WORKS, IN THE FURN OF SUBVENTIONS, IS NOW TO BE PROPORTIONATELY INCREASED FROM 50 TO 60 PER CENT.
ALTOGETHER, THESE INCREASES IN GRANTS WILL COST AN ADDITIONAL $4,447,000 ANNUALLY IN RECURRENT EXPENDITURE AND $1,590,000 IN NON-RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.
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