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MONDAY, JUNE 14, 1976
FINANCE SCHEME FOR POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS
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THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT A SCHEME OF GRANTS AND LOANS WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO FULL-TIME STUDENTS AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC. IT WILL COME INTO OPERATION IN THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR 1976-77. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO ENDORSED THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS FOR THE POLYTECHNIC TO INCREASE TUITION FEES FOR NEW FULL-TIME STUDENTS FROM THE TIME WHEN THE FINANCE SCHEME IS INTRODUCED.
THE SCHEME FOR POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE SCHEME THAT IS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITIES. ALL AWARDS WILL BE MADE ON THE BASIS OF NEED, TAKING ACCOUNT OF FAMILY INCOME AND OF OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.
THE MAXIMUM GRANT THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO A STUDENT WILL BE THE FULL TUITION FEE PLUS $600 FOR EXPENSES SUCH AS BOOKS AND EQUIPMENT. THE MINIMUM GRANT WILL BE $100.
THE LOANS, WHICH PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TOWARDS THE STUDENTS' LIVING EXPENSES, WILL RANGE FROM A MINIMUM OF $600 TO A MAXIMUM OF $4,000. THE LOANS ARE INTEREST FREE AND ARE PAYABLE OVER THREE OR FIVE YEARS AFTER LEAVING THE POLYTECHNIC, DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF COURSE TAKEN BY THE STUDENT.
THE GRANT AND LOAN SCHEME IS NOT OPEN TO PART-TIME STUDENTS.
IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW MANY POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS WILL NEED ASSISTANCE, BUT FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SCHEME IT HAS BEEN ASSUMED THAT THE DISTRIBUTION OF INCOMES AND RESOURCES AMONG POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS WILL BE THE SAME AS AT THE UNIVERSITIES. THIS MEANS THAT ABOUT 60 PER CENT OF THE FULL-TIME STUDENTS, OR ABOUT 3,000 WILL BE ASSISTED.
STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL AID AND THE INFORMATION THEY PROVIDE WILL HAVE TO BE SUPPORTED BY A STATUTORY DECLARATION, WHICH MAY BECOME THE BASIS OF PROSECUTION IF THE INFORMATION IS FOUND TO BE FALSE. THE SCHEME IS AN ANNUAL ONE AND FRESH APPLICATIONS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE EACH YEAR.
APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM EXISTING STUDENTS MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE POLYTECHNIC BY AUGUST 4, 1976, APPLICATION FORMS FOR NEW STUDENTS WILL BE GIVEN TO THEM WHEN THEY ARE NOTIFIED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO THE POLYTECHNIC. THEY SHOULD BE COMPLETED AND RETURNED IMMEDIATELY.
EVEN IF THIS IS DONE, HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE ON THIS OCCASION TO TELL EACH STUDENT EXACTLY WHAT AID IS BEING OFFERED UNTIL AFTER THE START OF THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR. IN THE UNIVERSITY SCHEME NOTIFICATIONS ARE MADE SHORTLY BEFORE THE STUDENTS REGISTER. IT IS HOPED NEXT YEAR TO ACHIEVE THIS ALSO FOR POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS, BUT THE LATENESS OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATIONS, ON WHICH MANY POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS DEPEND FOR ADMISSION, MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT.
/THE SCHEME