114
HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
keep fees reasonably low and pay teachers the same salaries as are paid in government schools. There are now 378 subsidized schools, an increase of 21 over last year, brought about by the building of 11 new schools, and by the admission of 10 private schools to the Subsidy Code. In addition, some schools have erected new buildings and others have added classrooms as normal expansion. The subsidized schools have benefited both by the employment of an increasing number of trained teachers and by greater opportunities for their pupils to receive a secondary education.
Private Schools. Considerable indirect Government assistance is given to private schools through special courses for improving the professional qualifications of teachers and through inspection and advice from specialists. A Special Advisory Panel has been set up in the Education Department to assist and advise managers of private schools on all aspects of school management, including registration, premises, equipment, staffing, finance and general administration.
Private colleges are now playing a more important part in post- secondary education and show increased enrolment. A Chinese Colleges' Joint Council representing three post-secondary institu- tions was engaged during the year in considering the raising of the standard of admission requirements, and of staff, premises and equipment. The growing importance of these institutions is re- flected in the grant of a number of Government scholarships and bursaries tenable for a four-year course at the day colleges. The holders of bursaries will take an arts or science course, and then receive a year's training at a government teacher training college. Special afternoon classes were formed in 1950 for the benefit of children who were unable to obtain admission to primary schools. They are of two hours' duration, cover general subjects, and are run through the co-operation of a large number of schools, mostly private. Enrolment in these classes, which in 1957 was 19,428, has decreased this year owing to increased school facilities available under the development programme.
Training of Teachers. In 1958, 36 graduates were awarded Diplomas in Education by the University of Hong Kong, 562 students from the teacher training colleges passed their college examinations, and 195 members of the in-service training courses