WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1983
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SUBVENTION WILL REACH AGENCIES EARLIER
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GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO RUN ADULT EDUCATION COURSES WILL REACH THESE AGENCIES EARLIER THIS YEAR THAN IN THE PAST, SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER (ADULT EDUCATION), MR S.L. NG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
COMMENTING ON PREVIOUS REMARKS BY CERTAIN VOLUNTARY AGENCIES THAT GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION SOMETIMES REACHED THEM RATHER LATE. LEAVING THEM LITTLE TIME TO PLAN AND ORGANISE ADULT EDUCATION COURSES, MR NG SAID THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE UNDER A NEW PROCESSING SCHEDULE.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE SCHOLARSHIP AND PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE CARITAS CENTRE FOR FURTHER AND ADULT EDUCATION - CAINE ROAD DAY SCHOOL.
HE SAID AGENCIES WOULD BE INVITED TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR SUBVENTION THIS MONTH, WHICH WAS ALREADY THREE MONTHS EARLIER THAN IN THE PAST.
+NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS OF APPLICATIONS WILL BE MADE KNOWN MUCH EARLIER THAN PREVIOUSLY, POSSIBLY BY JULY 1, SO THAT VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS WILL HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO
PLAN THEIR COURSES, TO MOUNT PUBLICITY, TO RECRUIT STAFF AND TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT. +
MR NG SAID THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF EFFECTING PAYMENTS TO THE AGENCIES IN TWO INSTALMENTS INSTEAD OF FOUR AS AT PRESENT.
+FURTHERMORE, THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING TO RAISE THE ALLOWANCE FOR THE HIRE OF ACCOMMODATION, AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WILL BE INFORMED OF THE OUTCOME IN DUE COURSE.+
THE SUBVENTION SCHEME WAS LAUNCHED IN 1980 TO ASSIST VOLUNTARY BODIES TO RUN RETRIEVAL ADULT EDUCATION COURSES TO COMPLEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S PROGRAMME.
ORIGINALLY, THE SUBVENTION ONLY COVERED THE COST OF STAFF AND BASIC EQUIPMENT. BUT AS FROM 1982, IT HAD INCLUDED SALARIES FOR CENTRE ADMINISTRATORS AND OTHER OPERATIONAL COSTS SUCH AS ELECTRICITY, WATER, TELEPHONE CHARGES, HIRE OF ACCOMMODATION AND BASIC OFFICE EQUIPMENT.
THIS YEAR, A TOTAL OF 28 VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE SUBVENTION SCHEME, PROVIDING 47 COURSES TO ABOUT 9 000 ADULTS.
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