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EDUCATION
In May it was announced that, with effect from September, the fees charged in government junior English-speaking schools would be raised from $600 to $1,500 a year and in King George V School from $1,500 to $3,000 a year. These increases were necessary to give effect to government policy that the subsidy paid to English-speaking schools should not exceed the subsidy for other aided primary and secondary schools. However, in August the introduction of the new fees was postponed until January 1, 1972 to allow the Government further time to study recommendations made by the Salaries Com- mission on education allowances and to finalise details of a new fee remission scheme. In November it was announced that the proposed increases had been further postponed until September 1, 1972 so that a Select Committee of the Legislative Council could examine in detail the operating costs of English-speaking schools.
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PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION
Private kindergartens, which are not maintained or run by the Government but are registered with the Education Department and supervised by the inspectorate, fell from 863 in 1970 to 841 in September 1971 and enrolment rose from 123,218 to 132,900. The Government gives assistance in the form of grants of Crown land to reliable bodies, the provision of accommodation in government low- cost housing estates, the waiving of rents in resettlement estates, and the provision of teacher training and further education facilities. It also makes freely available professional advice which is greatly sought after by teachers and managers.
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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 the Government, cater for children whose first language is English.
The total primary day school enrolment in September was 744,219, compared with 741,476 in the previous year. In addition, 20,094 pupils attended primary night schools and a limited number of special afternoon classes. During the year 39,170 new primary places were provided, compared with 37,443 in the previous year. The target of providing a government or subsidised primary place for every child of primary school age has already been reached. Further provision of school places will be geared mainly to the needs of developing areas.