WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1974
INCREASED TEXTBOOK SUBSIDIES FOR NEEDY PUPILS
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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE TEXTBOOKS AND STATIONERY GRANT AND THE CAPITATIO.. GRANT TO SUBSIDIZED PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO HELP N.EDY PUPILS AD TO HELP THE FI..ANCES OF THE SCHOOLS.
THE TEXTBOOKS AND STATICHERY GRANT HAS BEET. 1.C.ER ED FROM $20 TO 530 AND THE CAPITATION GRAN, FROM $20 TO $zu FÜR EACH PUPIL EACH YEAR.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT THE REVISIONS WERE MADE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF GENERAL PRICE INCREASES SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GRANTS.
THE TEXTBOOKS AND STATIONERY GRANT, WHICH IS INTENDED TO HELP PUPILS TO MEET EXPENSES FOR TEXTBOOKS AND STATIONERY, WAS INTRODUCED IN 1968.
IN GOVERNMENT CHINESE PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND IN SUBSIDIZED PRIMARY SCHOOLS WHERE NO FEES ARE CHARGED, THE GRANT IS PAYABLE TU UP TO 20 PER CENT OF THE PUPILS IN THE SCHOOL.
IN SUBSIDIZED PRIMARY SCHOOLS WHERE FEES ARE CHARGED, THE GRANT 13 MADE TO FREE-PLACE HOLDERS AND IN SUBSIDIZED SPECIAL SCHOOLS, IT IS PAYABLE TO UP TO 30 PER CENT OF THE SCHOOLS' PUPILS.
THE CAPITATION GRANT WAS INTRODUCED IN SEPTEMBER 1971 WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION IN HONG KONG.
IT IS MADE TO SCHOOLS TO COVER THEIR EXPENDITURE PREVIOUSLY MET FROM *TUNG FAI' AND OTHER SUBSIDY CHARGES TO PUPILS.
THIS EXPENDITURE IS FOR CONSUMABLE STORES, EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, INSURANCE, COST OF MAJOR REPAIRS TU THE SCHOOL BUILDING AND HEPLACEME...T OF FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT.
SUBSIDIZED PRIMARY SCHOOLS, WHICH DO NOT NOW CHARGE THEIR PUPILS ARE PAID A GRANT OF 526 BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR EACH PUPIL EACH YEAR.
- AT THE SAME TIME, FOR SCHOOLS WHICH DO NOT CHANGI FLES, THEIR CONTRIBUTION FROM THIS GIANT TUUADS HAJJA REPLIES TU THE SCHOOL BUILDING AID REPLACLIENT OF FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN REDUCED F... 50 PER CENT TU 20 PLP CENT.
+THEY WILL THUS BE ENCOURAGED TO CARRY OUT PROPER MAINTENANCE OF THEIR PREMISES BY HAVING TO CUTTR:IBUL LECS FLO. THE GRANT,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
TO MAKE UP FOR THE DECREASE 14 THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON THESE MAINTENANCE WORKS, IN THE FULL OF SUBVENTIONS, IS NOW TO BE PROPORTI JUM.TELY INCREASED FROM 50 TO 50 PER CENT.
ALTOGETHER, THESE INCREASES IN GRANTS WILL COST AN ADDITIONAL $4,447,000 ANNUALLY IN RECURENT EXPEND I TURE AND $1,590,000 11 „ÜL-RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.
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