316
5.
The Special Committee is convinced that it is a mistake to offer specialised Chinese courses for students who are not capable of passing the Matricula- tion Examination. If the provision of the Ordinance is to be observed, Chinese instruction must be pro- vided by the University, but only for those who have attained Matriculation standard. This standard should, however, be lowered in respect of mathematics for those who propose to take a continuous University course in Chinese.
6.
The School of Chinese Studies should accordingly be closed, and the University should provide courses and staff to produce "a type of graduate who will combine a knowledge of Chinese literature and Chinese history with an effective knowledge of English language and literature." This end is not attainable by changes within the existing groups of subjects in the Arts Faculty. They recommend, therefore, two new groups of English and Chinese, the second being more intensive than the first, capable of being taken in four years by a Chinese student of ordinary ability, and in continua. tion of the work that is being done in the highest classes of the Anglo-Vernacular Schools. (As will be shown below, the Anglo-Vernacular Schools' Chinese course has recently been changed.) As a first step towards the new groups of studies they propose the appointment of a Chinese scholar acquainted with modern methods of study, with the salary and status of a University Reader. They propose also the appointment of one Lecturer and one Translator, with an additional Lecturer if the more intensive course is instituted, and eventually provision for a post-graduate course.
ry.
From the Memorandum of the Director of Education, it will be seen that the Vernacular Middle School, established by the Government as a preparatory branch of the School of Chinese Studies, has naturally been jeopardised by this scheme. The higher classes, which contain very few students, are to be abolished, but the lower classes will be retained for a year in order to test the demand for such a school among those who do not
An article on this propose to enter the University. School was published in "Oversea Education", Vol. II, No. 1.
8.
The
The closure of the School of Chinese Studies and the development of the University scheme generally on the lines recommended by the Special Committee have been approved by the Senate and Council, and the approval
The of the University Court is apparently certain. University courses now to be instituted will be supported (a) from the Boxer Indemnity Fund allotment, and (b) from the endowment fund originally raised by local subscription for the School of Chinese Studies. Government apparently stops the $25,000 that they were
The giving annually to the School of Chinese Studies. original proposals for the expenditure of the estimated income of £12,000 from the Boxer Indemnity Fund provided for the development of existing Faculties, including Engineering and Medicine. The effect of the present scheme on these original proposals is not stated. may be noted, however, that out of nearly $109,000 set apart originally for the development of existing Faculties, only $15,000 will be required for Chinese studies.
It