WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1979
11
VIEWS ON COMPULSORY EDUCATION
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THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT, SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DREW THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTENTION TO PROBLEMS ARISING FROM ITS INCLUSION OF MORE SCHOOLS INTO THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO MEET ITS TARGETS FOR 'NINE YEARS' FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION,
SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS BROUGHT INTO THE SECTOR IN 1978 WAS 58, AND THIS YEAR THERE WILL BE 65, NEXT YEAR 77 AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT 82.
HOWEVER, THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS TO COPE WITH THE MASSIVE PROBLEMS INVOLVED. NEITHER HAS THERE BEEN MORE PROVISION FOR OTHER BACK-UP SERVICES, SUCH AS SHORT IN-SERVICE COURSES FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF TEACHING, VISUAL-AIDS AND LIBRARY SERVICES.
FURTHERMORE ALTHOUGH VERBAL PROMISES HAVE BEEN MADE FROM TIME TO TIME THAT THERE IS ACTIVE CONSIDERATION TO IMPROVE THE STAFFING OF SCHOOLS WITH FLOATING CLASSES, THE ESTIMATES DO NOT SHOW ANY PROVISION FOR INCREASE IN SCHOOL PERSONNEL - LABORATORY TECHNICIANS, LIBRARIANS AND TEACHERS TO IMPROVE THE CLASS-TEACHER RATIO,
SHE SAID GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN VERY WILL ING IN IMPLEMENTING REQUESTS FOR MORE CLASSES, BUT THEY HAVE HOPED FOR SOME RELIEF IN RETURN.
MANY OF THEM WOULD PREFER THE GOVERNMENT SPEND ITS MONEY THIS WAY THAN ON ABOLISHING TONG FAI OR SUBSCRIPTIONS, SHE ADDED.
MISS BENNETT SAID SHE WAS DISTURBED TO DISCOVER THAT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IS KNOWN TO HAVE COMMITTED ITSELF TO A POLICY OF PROVIDING NINE YEARS' FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION, THERE ARE STILL 178 DAY-TIME PRIVATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS EDUCATING OVER 74,000 CHILDREN UNDER 1,828 UNTRAINED TEACHERS.
SHE WAS TOLD BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION THAT 153 GRADUATES ARE EXPECTED THIS YEAR FROM THE IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSE FOR THESE TEACHERS, 103 GRADUATES IN 1980, 94 GRADUATES IN 1981 AND NO FIRM NUMBER AFTERWARDS.
SHE THEREFORE AGAIN URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO BE MORE POSITIVE IN ITS APPROACH TO TRAINING THESE TEACHERS AND NOT STOPPING ANY COURSES.
SHE ASKED FOR A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE PARITY PRINCIPLE IN FINANCING ENGLISH-SPEAKING SCHOOLS.
SHE SAID THIS IS ADMITTEDLY A MINORITY QUESTION BUT SHE BELIEVED A COMMUNITY WILL BE JUDGED ON HOW IT TREATS ITS MINORITIES.
/WHILE SHE