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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1976
SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS WILL BE MADE BY SEPTEMBER 1976 TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, INCREASES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ARE ESTIMATED AT 16,829 FOR FORMS 1 TO 3, 1,547 FOR FORMS 4 AND 5 AND 1,080 FOR FORM 6.
THE GOVERNMENT'S SUBVENTIONS ON EDUCATION IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR INCLUDES ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 36 ASSISTED PRIVATE NON-PROFIT-MAKING SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SECOND STAGE TO FULLY SUBSIDISED STATUS UNDER THE CODE OF AID FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE SECOND STAGE TO BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1976, MR. TOPLEY SAID.
FROM THAT DATE, THE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO TEACHERS IN THESE ASSISTED PRIVATE SCHOOLS WILL BE INCREASED FROM THE PRESENT RATE OF 50 PER CENT TO 75 PER CENT OF EACH TEACHER'S ACTUAL SALARY ENTITLEMENT. THE SCHOOLS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE REMAINING 25 PER CENT.
IN TERMS OF ENHANCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR SSEE CANDIDATES THIS YEAR TO QUALIFY FOR AIDED PLACES IN FORM 1, THE DIRECTOR ESTIMATED THAT THE NUMBER TO BE ALLOCATED WILL RISE FROM 48,500 IN 1975 TO SOME 67,300 PLACES THIS YEAR. IN 1978 THERE WILL BE PLACES FOR EVERYONE COMPLETING PRIMARY 6.
MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT THE CONVERSION OF UNDER-UTILISED GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 1978.
ALTOGETHER 18 PRIMARY SCHOOL BUILDINGS WILL BE CONVERTED TO PROVIDE A IDED PLACES IN FORMS 1 TO 6 EQUIVALENT TO 12 STANDARD 24-CLASSROOM SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S BOLD INITIATIVE TO IMPLEMENT ITS SECONDARY EXPANSION PLANS QUICKLY, RAISES A NUMBER OF ISSUES. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SSEE WITH A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE IS A NOTABLE EXAMPLE. SELECTION THEREAFTER FOR AIDED PLACES FOR FORMS 4 AND 5 IS ANOTHER.
THE FALLING ENROLMENT IN PRIMARY CLASSES AND THE MOVEMENT OF POPULATION INTO NEW TOWNS, RESULTING IN THE CLOSURE OF CLASSES IN SOME GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN EFFECTS.
+BUT WE ARE HARD AT WORK ON ALL THESE MATTERS, THE DIRECTOR SAID. +I AM SOUNDING RESPONSIBLE PROFESSIONAL OPINION ON THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SSEE. I HAVE APPOINTED A WORKING PARTY TO LOOK INTO POST-FORM 3 SELECTION IN 1981 AND THEREAFTER.
ON THE QUESTION OF THE REDUCTION OF 100 AIDED PRIMARY CLASSES IN SEPTEMBER 1976, MR. TOPLEY SAID: +1 AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF SPONSORS I SHALL BE ABLE TO PLACE THE SERVING TEACHERS AFFECTED IN OTHER AIDED SCHOOLS.+
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