to continue.
Indeed, the pressure is so great that some of the best private schools are being asked to consider adopting a similar plan. Government cannot and should not put up buildings to accommodate school children who are only temporary residents.
The number of pupils in Government schools has more than doubled in the last two years with over 2,000 additional pupils since last year and the increase has again been mainly on the vernacular side. There is, however, a growing demand for English and in those schools where it is the medium of instruction there are always long waiting lists. Owing to lack of accommodation some 700 secondary pupils of Government schools had to continue their education in the primary schools, where an extra class was added. While they received the same book education as would have been available at Queen's College, they were handicapped by lack of laboratory facilities. With the opening of a new Queen's College in September 1950 all these pupils will
will be accommodated there. While fewer children than pre-war attend secondary schools, 28,000 as compared with 37,000, the demand for secondary education is increasing at the rate of 8,000 per annum. Some of the education given in the private middle schools (secondary vernacular) is not of a high standard. A further difficulty which has arisen as a result of the political upheaval in China is the lack of outlet for the products of the Senior Middle Schools. Formerly they sought admission to Universities in China but many are now remaining in the Colony. A scheme whereby they can take a course of higher studies in Chinese is being examined.
The enrolment at King George Vth School, a secondary- grammar and modern-secondary school, continues to increase. Despite the addition of six new classrooms the school is full with an attendance of 483, of whom 238 are boys. It will be necessary to raise the age of admission to eleven years instead of ten years as at present and add an extra class to the Junior schools. This school compares favourably with any grammar secondary school in England both in academic attainment and in sport. Thirteen out of fifteen entrants gained the Cambridge School Certificate and the school has won the Governor's Shield for athletics, in competition with all schools in the Colony, two years in succession. King George Vth School is 'fed' by four government junior schools for British children (with a total enrolment of over 300), two Garrison schools for service children and the best of the children from other Government, Grant-aided and Private schools.
Rural education is conducted mainly through subsidised schools. Out of 230 rural schools with an enrolment of 16,000 three are government and 200 subsidised. Increasing
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