J
- 50 -
2.72 Student financing and tertiary-level fees
Grants and
interest-free loans for needy students at the two universities are
provided from public funds under a government scheme administered
by the Joint Universities' Committee on Student Finance: this
ensures that students are not prevented by lack of means from taking
up a university place. The amount of public funds available for
student financing has increased substantially over the years. For
the 1980-81 academic year $10 million in grants and $28 million in
interest-free loans have been provided. The student financing scheme
was extended to Hong Kong Polytechnic students in 1976-7, with grants
and loans administered by the Polytechnic Committee on Student Finance.
Some $1.6 million in grants and $17.8 million in loans have been provided
by the government for polytechnic students in 1980-81. Needy students
in the technical institutes, the colleges of education and the Technical
Teachers' College have for many years been eligible for grants and loans
administered by the Education Department, which in 1980 also introduced
a system of financial assistance for students of the three approved
post-secondary colleges in accordance with the principles set forth in
the 1978 White Paper. Public-sector senior secondary and tertiary level
education is heavily subsidised, existing fees ranging from $800 p.a.
for a place in Form VI or a college of education to $1,000 p.a. for a
Polytechnic course and $2,050 p.a. for a university course. As a result
of a recent general review, fees will rise in the universities and
the Polytechnic by 1983 to maxima of $3,010 p.a. and $2,200 p.a.
respectively. Fees in the assisted approved post-secondary colleges
are somewhat higher since only part of the colleges' income comes
from public funds. Student financing schemes are adjusted periodically
to take into account such factors as fee increases and cost-of-living
The government has recently announced the introduction
movements.
ļ
!