Sunday, March 10, 1974
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At the end of this month, 3,916 places for handicapped children
in aided schools are likely to be available. During 1974-75 it is
expected that a further 5,230 places would be provided, bringing the
total of such places in aided schools to 9,146.
As regards the financial implications of the revised policy on
post-primary education, the estimated cost of providing the additional
places required after March 31, 1974 to meet the likely requirement by
March 1976 is about $40 million annually recurrent and $150 million
non-recurrent.
By March 31, 1974, 141,050 places are likely to be available
in secondary aided and assisted schools. During the next financial
year it is intended to subsidize or assist about 20,000 more places.
Since September 1, 1973, the per capita grant for three-year
bought places in 25 non-profit-making private secondary schools has
been increased from $192 to $275 a year for each bought place.
Eighty-four per cent of the per capita grant is to be used on
supplementation of qualified teachers' salaries and 16 per cent on
classroom equipment and other items of approved expenditure.
As a result 16,000 pupils in these schools will benefit from
the increased grant.
Hong Kong's capacity to adapt to changing industrial and
commercial conditions greatly depenus on the technical education expension
programme.
The government's plans in this field have already been announced.
They include the provision of four new technical institutes by 1977 in
addition to the existing one at Morrison Hill.
To cater