EDUCATION
21st century, the Education Commission was asked to conduct a comprehensive review of the education system, from the pre-primary to tertiary level. The commission aims to complete the review by 2000.
After a government review, the Chief Executive announced in the 1998 Policy Address the introduction of measures to foster growth in the number of quality private schools so as to give schools greater scope for innovation and allow parents a wider choice of education for their children.
About 1.3 million students, or 19.7 per cent of the total population, were in full- time education during the year. Approved public recurrent and total spending on education in the 1998-99 financial year amounted to $42.99 billion and $53.20 billion respectively, representing 22 per cent of the government's total recurrent expenditure and 18 per cent of the total public expenditure. Tertiary education accounts for about one-third of the education budget.
Hong Kong provides nine-year, free and universal basic education. All children between the ages of six and 15 are entitled to free school places and 85 per cent of the students in the appropriate age group also receive secondary level or technical education at highly subsidised rates, while 18 per cent of the relevant age group are able to obtain a university education.
Regulatory Legislation
School education services come under the Education Ordinance (Chapter 279). School operators must comply with the provisions of the Ordinance and the Education Regulations covering areas such as registration of schools, teachers and managers, health and safety requirements, fees and charges and teacher qualifications.
The Vocational Training Council Ordinance covers technical colleges, technical institutes, training centres, and skills centres for persons with a disability. The Post- Secondary Colleges Ordinance covers institutions offering post-secondary courses outside the tertiary sector. The Education Scholarships Fund Ordinance provides for the administration of scholarships donated by members of the public.
The Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance took effect in June 1997 to provide consumer protection. It introduces a registration system to regulate the quality of courses conducted in Hong Kong leading to the award of non-local higher academic or professional qualifications. Advertisements, premises and refund of fees for such courses are subject to regulation.
The Government's Role
The Secretary for Education and Manpower, who heads the Education and Manpower Bureau of the Government Secretariat, formulates and reviews education policy, secures funds in the government budget, and oversees the effective implementation of educational programmes.
The Director of Education, who heads the Education Department, implements policies at kindergarten, primary and secondary levels. The department's main responsibilities include the provision and allocation of public sector school places; provision of education opportunities for children with special educational needs; development of school curricula; assurance of quality school education; monitoring
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