MADHESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1978
APPROVED POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN MEETING THE APPROVED DEVELOPMENT TARGETS FOR FORM 6 AND TERTIARY EDUCATION.
THE COLLEGES WILL BE ASKED TO OFFER TWO-YEAR COURSES AT FORM 6-LEVEL, FOLLOWED BY FURTHER TWO-YEAR COURSES LEADING TO PROFESSIONAL OR OTHER VOCATIONAL QUAL IF ICATIONS. COLLEGES PROVIDING THESE COURSES WILL RECEIVE SUITABLE FINANCIAL AID. ASSISTANCE WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS TAKING TWO-YEAR POST-FORM 6 COURSES ON THE SAME BASIS AS THAT GIVEN TO STUDENTS ATTENDING COLLEGES OF EDUCATION.
THE POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES MAY ALSO RUN ONE-YEAR COURSES FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE TWO-YEAR POST-FORM 6 COURSES AND WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED THEIR ABILITY TO PROCEED TO A HIGHER AWARD. A LOAN SCHEME WILL BE OFFERED TO STUDENTS TAKING THESE COURSES AND FROM SEPTEMBER, 1979 TO EXISTING STUDENTS AT THESE COLLEGES.
INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENTS WILL BE MADE OF THE STANDARD OF COLLEGE AWARDS AND APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION GIVEN TO QUALIFIED STUDENTS.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADULT EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION COURSES RUN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S ADULT EDUCATION SECTION WILL BE IMPROVED AND THE CURRICULUM WILL BE BROADENED THROUGH THE USE OF LABORATORIES AND SPECIAL ROOMS. ADMINISTRATION OF THE COURSES WILL ALSO BE STRENGTHENED.
THE MAIN THRUST OF THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY FOR DEVELOPING ADULT EDUCATION COURSES WILL BE DIRECTED AT HELPING VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS TO COMPLEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT THE COURSES RUN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. A SUBVENTION SCHEME WILL BE INTRODUCED TO HELP, ON A PROJECT BASIS, VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS OFFERING SUITABLE COURSES.
COST
THE COST OF EXPANDING AND IMPORVING HIGHER EDUCATION WILL CALL FOR SPENDING AN ADDITIONAL $644 MILLION A YEAR BY 1985-86. ALMOST ALL OF THIS COST WILL BE MET BY GENERAL REVENUE, BUT FROM SEPTEMBER, 1979, FORM 4 TO 5 FEES WILL BE RAISED IN STAGES TO $600 A YEAR AND FORM 6 FEES TC 3800 A YEAR.
NON-STANDARD FEES CHARGED BY RURAL SCHOOLS WILL BE BROUGHT INTO LINE WITH STANDARD FEES. THE FEES REMISSION SCHEME WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT NO STUDENTS FROM POOR FAMILIES ARE DEPRIVED OF SENIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL REASONS.