REVIEW
13
ADVANCES IN EDUCATION
If in 1956 plans for the expansion of medical services were yet to be formulated, the seven-year plan for the expansion of primary schools was already two years old, and it continued during the remaining five years to meet and surpass its targets, so that by 1961 it had provided 313,000 additional places-131,000 more than originally planned. However, the 1961 census showed that there were still over 80,000 children in the primary school age group (6-11 years) who were not at school. By 1966 another 200,000 primary places had been provided, although this did not necessarily mean that every child of primary school age was in school.
Concurrently with the expansion of primary education, the supply of trained teachers was increased with the expansion of facilities at Northcote and Grantham Training Colleges and the establishment in 1960 of a third college, the Sir Robert Black Training College. Other areas of post-secondary education also recorded a considerable boost.
The long-established University of Hong Kong had, even in 1957, less than 1,000 students. By 1966, as a result of a seven-year plan, the number had topped 2,000, and was planned to reach 2,750 by 1970. The University of Hong Kong caters mainly for students from the Anglo-Chinese schools. A need was seen in the late 1950s for a university outlet for the graduates of Chinese Middle schools, where instruction could be chiefly conducted in the Chinese language. In 1959 Mr J. S. Fulton, now Lord Fulton, came to Hong Kong to advise the government on the creation of a university which would cater for the needs of Chinese-speaking students. Three of the existing post-secondary colleges were seen as potential colleges of a new university and were given financial and other assistance. In 1963 Mr Fulton returned as Chairman of the Fulton Commission to advise the government on the steps necessary to establish a federal-type Chinese University. In October 1963 the new Chinese University was incorporated under ordinance. The number of students in the three post-secondary colleges was just over 1,000 in October 1962 and by October 1966 the numbers in the university were 2,000. The colleges are at present widely