WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1981
WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION PUBLISHED
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THE GOVERNMENT TODAY PUBLISHED A PACKAGE OF MEASURES IN A WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES TO LOOK AFTER THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN ATTENDING CHILD CARE CENTRES, KINDERGARTENS AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
THE WHITE PAPER WAS TABLED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON ERIC HO, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.
THE MEASURES HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, PARENTS, EDUCATIONAL AND WELFARE BODIES AND UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS ON THE ORIGINAL PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE GREEN PAPER PUBLISHED LAST YEAR.
IN THE LIGHT OF THESE COMMENTS, SOME OF THE GREEN PAPER PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED AND NEW IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED.
WHILE THEY REPRESENT A CONSIDERABLE STEP FORWARD IN TERMS OF STANDARDS, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO KEEP THEM UNDER REGULAR REVIEW AND TO MAKE FURTHER MODIFICATIONS AS AND WHEN RESOURCES BECOME AVAILABLE.
A NUMBER OF THESE MEASURES WILL REQUIRE LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS, PARTICULARLY TO THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS AND THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS. THE IMPLEMENTATION DATES SET OUT WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE VOTING OF FUNDS BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FROM TIME TO TIME.
COPIES OF THE WHITE PAPER WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND NT DISTRICT OFFICES.
THE MORE IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS AND CHANGES COMPARED TO THE GREEN PAPER PROPOSALS ARE:
* A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN KINDERGARTEN AND CHILD CARE
CENTRE SERVICES-
* AN IMPROVED FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR CHILDREN REQUIRING
PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES=
* AN IMPROVED STAFFING FORMULA FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS=
* MORE PROVISION OF BASIC EQUIPMENT AND CONSUMABLE MATER FALS
FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS=
* A MORE FLEXIBLE SCHEME FOR CONTROL OF ENTRY TO PRIMARY
SCHOOLS AND
* IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STANDARD OF RURAL EDUCATION.
DISTINCTION BETWEĻA