14
THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1978
OPPOSITION TO FREE JUNIOR SECONDARY
EDUCATION FOR WEALTHY CHILDREN
******
THE REV. THE HON. PATRICK MCGOVERN IS OPPOSED, ON ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL GROUNDS, TO THE POLICY OF MAKING JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION FREE FOR ALL IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
SPEAKING AT THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY HE SAID IF THE HIGH COST OF FREE EDUCATION IS NOW ACCEPTABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH WAS NOT ENVISAGED IN THE 1974 WHITE PAPER ON +SECONDARY EDUCATION IN HONG KONG OVER THE NEXT DECADE+, THERE ARE STILL GREATER NEEDS ON WHICH THE AVAILABLE MONEY COULD BE SPENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID, WORKING MOTHERS ARE SPENDING HARD WON DOLLARS ON VERY HIGH KINDERGARTEN FEES, PARTLY TO GET THEIR CHILDREN OFF THEIR HANDS WHILE THEY GO TO WORK. AND PARTLY TO ENSURE THAT THE IR CHILDREN CAN COMPETE WITH RICH CHILDREN IN THEIR ENTRY INTO, AND PROGRESS THROUGH PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS, EXTREME MEASURES, SUCH AS BISESSIONAL ISM, OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS AND OTHER MEASURES WHICH LED TO LOWER STANDARDS, TAKEN IN THE MID-SIXTIES TO IMPLEMENT THE CRASH PROGRAMME OF PROVIDING PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR ALL, WERE MEANT TO BE TEMPORARY BUT ARE STILL WITH US.
THE WORKING PARTIES ON PRE-PRIMARY AND PRIMARY EDUCATION WILL HAVE MANY SUGGESTIONS FOR URGENTLY SPENDING MONEY, HE SAID.
IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, HE SAID HE COULD SUGGEST SUCH +EXPENSIVE AND NECESSARY REFORMS+ AS THE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OF MANY MORE PERSONNEL FOR CAREER AS WELL AS PERSONAL GUIDANCE.
+ IT IS A LONG LIST AND A BIG EILL, EVEN WITHOUT MOVING OUT OF THE FIELD OF EDUCATION, AND WITHOUT DEALING WITH THE GREEN PAPER, ESPECIALLY THE SADLY NEGLECTED FIELD OF ADULT EDUCATION,+ HE SAID.
FATHER MCGOVERN REALISED THAT HIS STATEMENT OPPOSING FREE EDUCATION FOR ALL IS OPEN TO NISINTERPRETATION.
HE WAS NOT SAYING THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WAS SPENDING $50 MILLION TOO MUCH ON EDUCATION, HE WAS SAYING THAT THE MONEY COULD BE BETTER SPENT ON THINGS OTHER THAN WHAT IS + IN EFFECT, A SUBSIDY TO THE RICH WHC COULD WELL AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE IR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION,+ HE EXPLAINED.
FATHER MCGOVERN STRESSED THAT HE IS IN FAVOUR OF FREE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR ANYONE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY, BUT IS OPPOSED TO IT FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD.
/HE DISAGREED