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EDUCATION
over $3 million for 1969-70 is in the hands of a Joint Universities Committee. This new scheme represents a substantial increase in the amount of public funds available for student financing and is intended to enable Government to achieve the aim of ensuring that students offered a place in either of the two universities should not be unable to accept that place through lack of means.
PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION
Private kindergartens, which are not maintained or run by Government but are registered with the Education Department and supervised by the Inspectorate, rose in number from 628 in the previous year to 778 in September 1969 and enrolment increased from 92,952 to 112,774. Government gives assistance in the form of grants of Crown land to reliable bodies, provision of accommo- dation in government low-cost housing estates and the waiving of rents in resettlement estates.
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PRIMARY EDUCATION
The great majority of primary schools use Cantonese as the language of instruction. English is studied as a second language from-the second year of the course. Seven primary schools, including five operated by Government, cater for children whose first language is English.
The total primary day school enrolment in September was 725,295. In addition, 26,876 pupils attended primary night schools and special afternoon classes. Since many school places are occupied by over-age children, further expansion is continuing, particularly in developing areas.
During the year 47,430 new primary places were provided, compared with 53,320 in the previous year. It is now certain that the target of providing a government or subsidised primary school place for every child of primary school age will be reached by late 1970.
Primary education in Hong Kong is neither free nor compulsory. However, in government and government-aided primary schools fees are low and the scheme of fee reduction, introduced in September 1968, has been further implemented since September