There were 20 Government schools in 1939, the same number as in 1938. Four of these are for British children of both sexes. 12 are English schools for Asiatic students and 4 are vernacular schools. In consequence of the opening of the Teachers Training College, no new normal classes were formed at the Vernacular Normal and Middle School and the Vernacular Normal School for Women. These two schools are in process of being converted into ordinary vernacular schools without normal classes and have been re-named Saiyingpun Vernacular School for Boys and Eastern District Vernacular School for Girls respectively. The Vernacular Normal School at Taipo continues to train teachers for rural vernacular schools. Two of the Government English schools are vocational, namely the Junior Technical School and Trade School.
The number of grant schools in 1939 was 19, the same as in 1938. Of these 15 were English schools and 4 higher grade vernacular. A new grant code for the regulation of Government contributions to these schools was prepared and was under discussion at the end of the year.
There were 276 subsidised schools in 1939 as compared with 279 in 1938, 155 being urban schools and 121 rural. A new subsidy code drawn up in 1938 was revised in 1939 and was under discussion at the end of the year.
The total of 982 private schools in 1939, an increase of fifty over the number in 1938, was made up of 134 English schools and 849 vernacular schools. Included are a number of refugee schools from South China which have established themselves temporarily in Hong Kong.
Altogether 120 new schools were registered during the year and 55 schools previously registered ceased to exist.
Evening classes, collectively known as the Evening Institute, were continued as usual in technical and educational subjects, classes being arranged in engineering, shipbuilding, building, electrical engineering, English, handwork and art, pharmacy, book-keeping, shorthand, method and English for teachers; the total number of students enrolled during the year was 958. In view of the opening of the Teachers Training College, the classes for training teachers were restricted to untrained teachers already serving in schools.
There were four orphanages and one home for incurables and aged women, all controlled by religious communities. The Hong Kong Refugee and Social Welfare Council conducted schools attended by 2,000 children in connection with the Government camps and food kitchens for refugees from China. The Salesian Institute continued to maintain two industrial schools.
There were three school clinics and two special centres for the treatment of eye, throat and nose defects. Inoculation against cholera and vaccination was carried out during the year and full use made of the services of the European Health Officer for Schools, two Chinese medical officers, one European lady medical officer (part-time) and five nurses.
An assistant supervisor of physical education was appointed at the beginning of the year. All Government schools were supplied with portable apparatus, and physical history record cards for all pupils were introduced. Eighteen teachers in grant schools were given special training but classes for other teachers which it had been planned to open in September had to be postponed owing to mobilisation at the outbreak of war. Sports clubs in the Colony continued to place their grounds at the disposal of schools for organised games; in the summer arrangements were made with some swimming clubs to borrow their premises for school swimming.
After the outbreak of war in September, 1939, a number of Government teachers were employed on defence duties and Government schools were handicapped by consequent changes of staff. Fortunately it was possible to engage temporary trained teachers to fill vacancies,
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