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THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1930.
EXPENSIVE EDUCATION.
RADICAL REFORM NEEDED."
MONEY SPENT ON HONG KONG SCHOOLS
[BY LUX.].
The following is the first instalment of a sorics of special articles dealing with education in the Colony, in which the writer urges the need for immediate referm in the existing system.
Query," in his letter last week, asked some pointed questions about the system and cost of education in Hong Kong. I have recently gone to considerable trouble in collecting some very pertinent facts, after dis cussing the matter with quite a variety of friends, some of whom are in Government Service, many engaged in Schools, and several are prominent business-men, some of whom serve on local Committees of Grant-in-Aid Schools,
thing which the heart of the most modern educational enthusiast can desire."
1
RETURN OF THE “MASKEE."
NO MORE ATTEMPTS THIS YEAR.
MASTER ALONE NOT SEASICK,
Just after midday yesterday, the Maskes made her way to the Causeway Bay shelter, where she dropped anchor. The whole of the previous night was spent at Clear Water Bay, and the craft and mem- bers of the crew bore visible signs of the trying time they experienced. The vessel got about 170 miles away from Hong Kong but was forced to return, and it is not likely that any more attempts will be made on the vayage round the world this year.
Mr. Stevenson and his companioni were on board the junk at the Causeway Bay shelter and looked rather the worse for their very trying experiences. With the exception of the former, all were aeasick at one time or other. Amember of the crew, in relating his experiences. mentioned that nothing but bad luck had dogged them. The wireless aerial was the first to get damaged.. and no sooner had one fault been put right than another cropped up, The water tanks were leaking, and owing to the, heavy seas, it was not possible to cook any food!
The decision to return was made on Monday, and although the wea- ther had calmed down considerably. all members of the crew were still feeling the effects of the rough riding
Yet, despite the large sums spent on King's College (they must come to a total of considerably more than a million dollars), it is easy to criticise the way in which the money has been lavished on buildings, equipment, etc. in addition to the high cost of education there. For example, the college is built at the corner of two very busy roads; My conclusion is that the Colony artificial light is needed in its hall does not realise the position as re during examinations; at its open gards education, and very possibly, ing ceremony it was hardly possible in very much the same way, does to hear the speakers, because of not realise the position in regard the noise in the streets, and regret to other Government Departments.
was expressed that it had no play- It is my firm conclusion that, foring-fields; several of its class-rooms are below the level of the road. example, in both the Medical and Education Departments, radical and have dark green tiles all round the walls which make them darker reforms are needed. We now have
very energetic and far-seeing than they need be. But I am dis Director of Medical and Sanitary pressing somewhat. Services who, if given the chance, will produce long overdue reforms in medical matters. There has not been a Director of Education for some fourteen months. During the last sixteen years, the position has often been filled by "acting pointments, and as there is a English Grant-in-Aid Schools. It might be of interest to point vacancy now, it would appear to be
Grant schools are non-Govern. out that the Maskee's position on a very appertude moment for the ment schools and are generally turning was 86 miles east of Tonku new Governor, to make changes in church schools. In 1928 there were
Point, Hainan, Lat. 20. N. the Education Department, which, fifteen such schools giving second-bers of the crew, Mr. J. Grenham Speaking on behalf of the mem- from facts which I shall present,ary education, riz St. Joseph's said they would like to place on, seems to be a very expensive depart College, Italian Convent, French record their appreciation of the ment in certain of its own schools
Convent. Diocesan Girl's School, skilful and unselfish way in which and which, at the same time, pays
Diocesan Boy's School, St. Mary's, Mr. Stevenson handled a situation. very meagre grants to the Grant St. Francis, St. Joseph's Branch, beset with obstacles and bad luck. in-Aid Schools, and especially to St. Paul's College, Wah Yat. St. these schools with British teachers Stephen's Girls College, Fairlea, on their stafis.
Victoria Home, Ying Wah and St. Paul's Girls. In these English grant church schools there were on the roll, in 1929, 3,968 scholar (average attendance 4,858).
"My main points are:-
ap-
(1) Could we have a new Director of Education appointed frow East or West Africa, or from the Straits Settlements, or from Shanghai have reasons for "mentioning all these places....
I
(2) The Grant-in-Aid Schools are starved, although they do so much valuable work in the Colony. They should be supported more generous ly by the Government. The system of the grants is out of date, and poor salaries are paid to the staffa
(3) The Government Schools only reach a small proportion of the population, and that at a high and, in some cases, an unnecessary cost. (4) If the system of education Hong Kong were based upon the same system of grants as in Eng land, the Straits Settlements and elsewhere, many more scholars would receive education at a cost which would average less than the Government
rost at Schools.
01
At Queen's and King's College there were, in 1929, 1344 boys on the roll with an average attendance of 1,224. For these scholars there were 29 certificated teachers, 27 Anglo-Chinese" masters and 17 ver
nacular masters.
with the exception of Mr. Stevenson,, as a result of which" he had to keep watch almost con- tinuously.
the Government might well consider increasing its work in vernacular schools, where adequate fees can be charged; and where the fees can The figures for English Govern-more proportionately meet the cost ment secondary schools which do the same work, as these non-Govern ment Schools are .3051, with an average attendance of 2,736. (Alsu see my Return on Secondary School). Thus it will be seen that the grant-in-aid schools supply education in secondary schools for many more scholars than the Gov- ernment schools. The figures are taken from the Blue Book for 1926. Now let us examine the cost to the Colony of grant-in-aid schools. The cost per head per annum to Government for educating a scholar in a grant-in-aid school is fixed by the Great Code, which pays very meagre grants indeed, g
For scholars in Classes 1 and 2: $50 per annum per head." For scholars in Classes 3 to 6:
$30 per annum per head.. For scholars in Class 7 and 8: 80 per annum per head.
A comparison as to the cost in Government secondary schools will be found in my return for the same.
63
of education. At the same time it should be remembered that a sur- feit of education," suddenly, "is bad for. a country. The mess outstand- ing example of this eau be seen, for example, in the Philippine Islands. The weak point in the Govern- ment Vernacular Education is the Jack of English juspectors..
The position of English Inspector of Vernacular Education was, in the opinion of very many people, very nnwisely abolished in 1925. If this type of education is to be encour- aged, English inspectors, with a knowledge, of Chinese, should be appointed.
In Hong Kong "the Government might well support existing second. ary schools, especially those with British teachers, and let the churches continue their excellent work. They have schools, and fees which suit all kinds of people and, generally speaking, as was acknow- ledged in a certain Commission ch Education elsewhere, there is less likelihood of students getting "up again the Government" in church schools than there is in Government
cost to the It is, however, certain that the Colony of Hong Kong, with its and system of present revenue taxation, cannot afford to continue to educate scholars in Government secondary schools at the rate of 3410,500 per annum for 2,780 scholars.
THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN HONG KONG.
Government Schools. British Schools for British Child ren. There are five such schools, ria. Central British, Κονίσου Erom this return it will be seen Junior, Peak, Victoria British and that the Government secondary Quarry Bay. For these schools schools educate 2,786 scholars (aver-Schools That is obvious. there were, in 1928, thirty-four cerage attendance) at a tificated teachers and the number of Colony of 8410,300. scholars the roll was 438.
The Church secondary schools (Average attendance, 342)." The educate 4,053 scholars at a cost of average cost per head per annum 19,276. These figures, after de to Government at the Central ducting fees, are taken from the British School, which is a secondary 1928 Blue Book. school (see later in my "Return of These schools do not wish to cost Secondary Schools is, after de- the Colony the same, as Govern- ducting fees. 8589 per annum periment schools, but, et present, some scholar. This cost does not, so far of them are starved, especially these as I know, include the cost of schools which employ British stoffs passages, pensions, furloughs, and and, as stated elsewhere, only get repairs to buildings.
the same, grants as schools with Economy might be made by using local staffs. In the Straits Bettle more pupil teachers or teachers in ments such schools are financed in training at all the above schools, similar way to Government schools, but even then they are less and by reducing starting salaries.
English Teaching Governinent expensive than Government schools, Schools (For other than British and the staff do not get pensions or the full allowances of the Gov- Pupils)The total number on the roli is 1828 was 3,228 (average aternment schools. A somewhat simi tendance 2,053). These schools in lar system in Hong Kong would clude such school or colleges as appear to be the only equitable King's and Queen's Colleges, Ellis system. Some of these grant. Kadoorie, Taumati, Wantsui, Gap schools, that is those under a Road, Talpo, Un Long, Ellis mision, receive financial help from Kadoorie for Indians, Cheung missionary, societies in England; Chau, and Belilios Public School others, like the two Diocesan for Girls, most of which rank as Schools, receive no such help, and secondary schools (See my Return
are what we might, call Colonial of Secondary Schools) The onst Church Schools per head to Government of boys educated at" King's" and "Queen's Colleges is after deducting fees, 8127 and 8170 per annum.
Other Schools,
There are other kinds of schools, all of which have to be registered,
At these two colleges the fees (1) Private English schools, such charged are 800 per annum for senior boys in Classes 1, 2 and 3 and 860 per annum for boys in Classen 4 to 8 km Me Mp4
as St. Stephen's Boy's College at Stanley. Such a school receives no" local grant, but part of its staff is paid by grants from the Church Missionary Society, London.
(2) Government vernacular schools. (3) Vernacular grant schools (non-Government).
(4) Private schools, urban dis tricts, afinid
At King's College the boys have the use of i swimming-bath, library, elaborately fitted science rooms-gymnasium, an art-room, etic. No grant-in-aid schools can compete with this. I doubt if there
yaya ( ESTADO SCROUTE, which offers such facilities for such feca. They can be found in Canada and America, but there the people pay, heavy toxes. No wonder that Vernacular education has received recent King's College is full to overflow: great encouragement in ing. You have one of the finest years. If the greatest good is to school buildings in the East, fitted be done for the greatest number; almost regardless of cost with every- (Continued on-neat Column.)
DYS
tricts.
+
Vernacular Schools.
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