13-
Director (Further Education) for the administration of the three approved
post-secondary colleges according to the requirements of the Post
Secondary Colleges Ordinance and for the control of grants and loans
to the colleges and their students according to administrative
requirements laid down by the Director). The role of the Department in
the establishment and maintenance of standards in the school system is
described in chapter 7.
3.21
Although departmental management is centralised, the steady
growth of the school system over the past two decades, culminating in
the current provision of nine years' universal, free and compulsory
education, together with rapidly expanding and diversified opportunities
for education beyond the Form III level, have necessitated the development
of a regional system of schools administration.
In order to secure closer
supervision of the schools and more effective liaison and co-operation
with them, the Schools Division is now organised in three regions (Hong
Kong, Kowloon, New Territories), each headed by a Principal Education
Officer and divided into administrative areas (e.g. Hong Kong East, Hong
Kong West) under Senior Education Officers. The areas are in turn sub-
divided into geographical districts (e.g. Sai. Kung, Tai Po, Yuen Long,
Tsuen Wan) under District and Assistant District Education Officers.
The work at district level tends by its nature to be centred on the legal
and administrative requirements of the Education Ordinance and Regulations
and the codes of aid. However, the district system also provides
opportunities for close and regular liaison between district
officials and individual schools under their administration on matters
other than routine legal and administrative requirements. The main
purpose of this liaison is to enable the Department to promote sound
management in schools, to be able to respond readily to grievances and
to offer advice and guidance in order to encourage harmonious working
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