HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - 25 May 1988
1459
-reducing the number of discretionary places from 10 per cent to 5 per cent
and limiting them to students from the same district;
---adding one extra floating class to all existing schools and adopting a
modified class structure for new schools.
The effectiveness of these measures can be judged from the number of additional Secondary I places they are expected to provide. If no special measures had been taken, then in September this year almost 4 000 children, and in each year from 1989 more than 5 000 children would be travelling out of the region to attend Secondary I classes. By introducing all these remedial measures, we have provided almost 1 000 extra Secondary I places for the coming September, and almost 4 500 extra places for September 1989. In 1990 and 1991, assuming that buildings are completed on schedule and our popula- tion projections are accurate, we now foresee a slight surplus of Secondary I places in the region, instead of shortfalls of 5 000 or 6 000 places.
The situation in 1992 and beyond is being reviewed in the light of updated population projections, based on the 1986 by-census, which have recently become available. If these projections indicate a need for additional schools, then I shall do my best to ensure that they are provided.
Sir, I believe that we are doing everything possible to minimise out-of-region travel by secondary students in the eastern New Territories. While some of these measures do make things more difficult for the schools concerned and their teachers, I am confident that the quality of education received by the children in the region will not be affected.
MR. CHEUNG (in Cantonese): Sir, according to the figures obtained in our surveys carried out in 1987, even if we are going to increase the number of floating classes in that region, there would still be a shortfall of more than 3 000 places. Will the Government inform this Council what measures will be taken to arrange for students to attend schools in other regions? In the next few years, there will be an additional 5 000 people moving into that region every month. What measures will be taken to resolve the transport problems?
SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER: Sir, the original question is concerned about what we are doing. I have explained what we are doing and this does in fact solve the shortfall for the next few years, up until 1992. From 1992 onwards, we shall look again and do our best to do what is needed.
MRS. FAN: Sir, I am pleased to hear that the Secretary is confident that the quality of education received by the children in this region will not be affected. May I ask whether the Education Department intends to use objective methods to confirm that the quality of education received in this region is not affected?