31
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
SPENDING ON EDUCATION BEING EXAMINED
******
THE GOVERNMENT WAS EXAMINING WHETHER THE BALANCE OF THE INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION WAS THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND PRODUCING THE OPTIMUM RESULT FOR THE RESOURCES DEVOTED TO IT, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, MR HENDERSON POINTED OUT THAT EDUCATION ACCOUNTED FOR THE BIGGEST SINGLE SLICE OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE.
+ THE ENORMOUS SUM OF $7.81 BILLION HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR EDUCATION IN 1985-86: 17 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE.
+NOTHING COULD MORE CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING, EXTENDING AND IMPROVING THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF HONG KONG, INCLUDING TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, + MR HENDERSON SAID.
HE SAID NO DOUBT THE CRY WOULD BE HEARD THAT STILL MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE, BUT A WORD OF CAUTION WAS APPROPRIATE HERE.
+FACED WITH EXISTING EXPENDITURE OF THE MAGNITUDE I HAVE REFERRED TO, IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT ANY NEW ADVANCES OF ANY SIZE MAY HAVE TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY A REVIEW OF THE PRESENT METHODS OF FINANCING EDUCATION, + MR HENDERSON SAID.
ON THE ABILITY OF HONG KONG STUDENTS TO OBTAIN HIGHER EDUCATION OVERSEAS PARTICULARLY IN U.K. NOW THAT THE FULL FEES WERE BEING CHARGED, MR HENDERSON SAID CLEARLY A CONSIDERABLE PART OF THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE EASED OVER THE YEARS AS THE PROGRAMME OF EXPANDING TERTIARY EDUCATION IN HONG KONG PROGRESSED.
J
MEANWHILE, MR HENDERSON SAID, A JOINT FUNDING SCHEME HAD PEEN CREATED BY THE U.K. AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS PURSUING OR INTENDING TO PURSUE A HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE U.K.
THE SCHEME WAS NOT AIMED AT PROVIDING HONG KONG STUDENTS WITH FREE HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE U.K. NOR WAS IT DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE ACTIVELY HONG KONG STUDENTS TO FURTHER THEIR STUDIES IN THE U.K.
RATHER, HE SAID, ITS MAIN OBJECTIVE WAS TO PROVIDE NEEDY HONG KONG STUDENTS PURSUING A FIRST DEGREE OR POLYTECHNIC HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA COURSE WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE THEM TO MEET THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE U.K. HOME AND OVERSEAS RATES OF TUITION FEE, THE LATTER HAVING BEEN PITCHE AT THE FULL COST LEVEL BY HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT FROM 1980.
J
+BEING A MODEST SIZE AND OF FINITE MEANS, THE SCHEME IS MEANS-TESTED, + MR HENDERSON SAID.
/HE SAID