two types of school has been markedly reduced and it is now for consideration whether the policy should be reviewed.

7.13

As far as secondary schools are concerned, a decision has already been made to modify the 1965 White Paper policy to enable the provision of a number of new Government secondary schools so that there will be at least one such school in each main geographical area. The new policy is described in the White Paper on Senior Secondary and Tertiary Education.

7.14

Although existing Government primary schools are generally under- utilized there appears to be a trend of increasing enrolment in many of these schools. Under these circumstances it is proposed that on a pilot basis two or three new Government primary schools should be built in selected developing areas where there is a demand for places and where a Government primary school would appear to be most appropriate. No firm decision will be made on the building of further Government primary schools until the new schools have proved successful.

Sub-standard school buildings

7.15

Government considers that a review of sub-standard school buildings should be undertaken with a view to establishing which of these should be brought up to standard, relocated or phased out.

Bisessionalism

7.16

The number of Government and aided primary schools operating bisessionally in the school year 1979/80 is given below:-

Government

Aided

No. of Unisessional

Schools

12

83

No. of Bisessional

Schools

45

544*

*AM school and PM school counted as one school if under

the same registration.

to

7.17

Bisessionalism was originally introduced as a temporary measure, provide primary places as rapidly as possible. Since then, primary provision has continued to be planned on a bisessional basis although a number of primary schools have since converted to whole-day schools when the number of pupils made this possible. This trend to unisessionalism is expected to continue but will be slow.

7.18

The Government is aware that a decisive move towards unisessionalism within the short term is not a practical proposition. The reasons are follows:-

(a) in any school which is at present operating two sessions,

each with a full complement of children, only half the number of children could be accommodated in the school and this would lead to a substantial increase in the

as

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