RESTRICTED
policies for the 1990's and beyond.
Following a 3 month
consultation period, the White Paper is due to be published
in March 1991. Similarly, the policies and services for the
rehabilitation of disabled persons will be reviewed
comprehensively in 1991 with the intention of publishing a
Green Paper in the second half of the year. The Green Paper
will set out proposals to ensure that the needs of disabled persons will continue to be met in the next decade and
beyond.
43. In the field of education, the Hong Kong Government
have adopted a two-pronged strategy for the 1990s; to
increase education and to improve the quality of education
at primary and secondary schools.
44.
Detailed measures to increase the provision of first
year degree places from 7,000 in 1989-90 to 15,000 by
1994-95 (an increase from 8 per cent to 18 per cent of the
17-20 age group) were submitted by local tertiary
institutions in early 1990 and accepted for implementation.
The establishment of the new University of Science and
Technology also proceeded according to schedule with the
first intake of students expected in October 1991.
45.
After studying the problems brought on by the
implementation of nine years of free and compulsory
education in the early 1980s, the Education Commission
published its findings in its fourth report in November.
Wide-ranging recommendations on reforming the curriculum,
introducing assessment standards and associated tests,
enhancing student counselling, implementing whole-day
schooling for senior primary classes and setting out a new
approach for the adoption of an appropriate medium of instruction for schools, are currently the subject of public
consultation. These measures, if accepted, will improve the
quality of primary and secondary education in the coming
decade.
ALAAEV/15
RESTRICTED