(b) Grant Schools.
Six of the eight English schools, the three higher grade vernacular girls schools and the mixed higher grade vernacular school already mentioned in connection with primary education had total maximum enrolments of 496, 450 and 2 girls respectively in their secondary departments. In the vernacular schools fees varied from $70 to $105 (£6. 12s) per annum and in the English schools $84 to $156 (£10 nearly) per annum.
The English schools and vernacular schools followed very similar time tables, usually including domestic science and biology, but differed in the language through which the subjects were taught. As, however, two of the vernacular schools entered girls for the Hong Kong University matriculation examination, considerable work was done in English. The third vernacular school—Heep Yunn—prepared students for Chinese universities and therefore very much less work was done in English.
Five subsidized vernacular schools with a maximum enrolment of 2,222 girls in their secondary departments received a total subsidy of $6,840 during the year. Their work was similar to, but of a higher standard than, the 45 non-subsidized vernacular schools (female attendance 3,079). Like the boys schools, these schools have a primary department and many have a junior middle school only. Many girls who pass out from these schools consider their education completed, but quite a number train for teachers or proceed to an English or higher grade vernacular school. Fees charged varied from $3 to $7 (8s. 9d.) per mensem.
Education for Chinese girls has undergone a further great change during the last ten or twenty years, girls in well-to-do families receiving the same education as boys, and proceeding to high schools and universities.
TRAINING OF TEACHERS.
The future training of women teachers will be carried out by the Teachers Training College (already dealt with in Chapter VII), and the Hong Kong University. At the end of 1939, the Teachers Training College had 12 women students in the English class and 12 in the vernacular but in future the number in training is expected to increase, especially in the vernacular class. Apart from those in the normal classes of the Eastern District Vernacular School for Girls concluding their course, 120 women were in training in the Evening Institute normal classes which met for two hours three times a week, receiving instruction in literature, history, composition, geography, mathematics, hygiene, school management and method—all in the vernacular. 5 women were under training at Hong Kong University with Government scholarships.
Chapter IX.
PHYSICAL AND MORAL WELFARE.
(a) Medical Inspection and Teaching of Hygiene.
The school hygiene branch of the Medical Department consisted of the Health Officer for Schools, two Chinese medical officers, one sanitary inspector (appointed in September) and five nurses.
The main duty of the school hygiene branch continued to be the medical inspection of school children and inspection of premises proposed for school purposes, but during the latter part of the year a number of visits were made to existing schools the total number of inspections being 1,416 (432 inspections were made in 1938). Plans are ready to include all existing schools in the system of inspection and report during 1940. As stated in Chapter II an improved set of health regulations will become effective on 1st January, 1940; it will be applied to all new schools and in due course to all existing schools.