EDUCATION
schools were in the care of 376 sponsoring bodies, the largest of which operated 116 schools.
By September, 172 government and aided primary, secondary and special schools had joined the School Management Initiative (SMI) scheme. The SMI was started in 1991 to give government and aided schools more decision-making power and more flexibility in the use of resources, in return for more formal procedures for planning, implement- ing and evaluating their activities. During the year, the Advisory Committee on SMI produced primary school administration manuals and other reference materials, which were circulated to both SMI and non-SMI schools. A newsletter, the SMI Quarterly, was sent regularly to school heads and teachers to keep them informed of developments. An evaluation of schools which joined the SMI in 1991 showed that they were positive about joining the scheme, and had made tangible progress in adapting the management framework in their schools.
Governing Bodies of Tertiary Institutions
Each tertiary institution has its own structure of governance, set out in its ordinance. In all cases, that structure includes a governing body (called the court, the council or the board of governors), and a body to regulate academic affairs (called the senate or the academic board). Some institutions operate under three bodies: a governing body, an executive body and a body dealing with academic affairs. The Governor is empowered by the ordinances to appoint the chairman of each governing body, as well as a prescribed number of members. This ensures a balanced distribution of members from the industrial, commercial and academic fields.
Funding of Education
Approved public spending on education in the 1994-95 financial year amounted to HK$28,800 million, representing 21 per cent of the government's total recurrent expendi- ture and five per cent of capital expenditure. Public funds cover about 90 per cent of the capital cost of an aided primary or secondary school and virtually the full cost of tertiary institution campuses, the entire recurrent cost of providing tuition from Primary 1 to Secondary 3, and about 85 per cent of the recurrent cost from Secondary 4 up to courses at degree level.
Non-profit-making kindergartens are eligible for rent and rates reimbursements, and needy parents of kindergarten pupils may apply for fee remission. Private primary schools and pupils receive no public funding, on the grounds that there are sufficient places in the public sector; but some private secondary schools receive public funds under two schemes. Under the Direct Subsidy Scheme, a private secondary school meeting a specified standard may receive a recurrent subsidy related to the cost of an aided school place and the fee charged by the school. Under the Bought Place Scheme, a private secondary school from which the government buys places to make up shortfalls in government and aided school places, is given financial assistance to help raise standards.
Student Finance
The Student Financial Assistance Agency administers several schemes which ensure, as far as possible, that students are not denied access to education because of a lack of means.
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