WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1985
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'GRANT CUT SHOULD NOT AFFECT SCHOOLS'
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THE REDUCTION IN THE ADMINISTRATION GRANT TO AIDED SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE SCHOOLS CONCERNED, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON LI YUET-TING, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN ON THE REDUCTION OF ADMINISTRATION GRANT TO AIDED SCHOOLS FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF JANITORS. MR LI SAID THE REVISED RATES OF GRANT HAVE BEEN CALCULATED FOLLOWING A DETAILED STUDY OF THE JANITOR AND CLEANING SERVICES IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS ON WHICH THE GRANT WAS BASED.
+WHILE THERE MIGHT BE SOME SMALL DIFFERENCES AMONG THE GOVERNNMENT SCHOOLS AND BETWEEN AIDED SCHOOLS AND GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS, THESE ARE NOT SUCH AS TO JUSTIFY A DIFFERENT BASIS FOR THE CALCULATION OF THE GRANT.
+HOWEVER, THERE IS IN THE AIDED SECTOR A SMALL NUMBER OF SCHOOLS WITH ADDITIONAL, NON-STANDARD TEACHING AREAS AND I HAVE MADE PROPOSALS TO THE THREE AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOL COUNCILS WHICH WOULD PERMIT SOME ENHANCEMENT OF THE GRANTS TO THESE SCHOOLS TO MEET THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS,* MR LI ADDED.
ON THE QUESTION OF GRANTING OF SEVERANCE PAY TO THE REDUNDANT WORKERS, MR LI SAID THE AWARD OF THE PAYMENT TO JANITOR STAFF COULD BE CHARGED TO THE ADMINISTRATION GRANT.
+GIVEN THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE SCHOOLS CONCERNED HAVE ACCUMULATED SURPLUSES MANY OF THEM UP TO THE PERMITTED THREE-MONTH LIMIT - THAT THE REDUCTION IS BEING PHASED IN OVER THREE YEARS AND THAT THE SEVERANCE PAYMENT IS REDUCED BY THE AMOUNT OF GRATUITY OR PROVIDENT FUND PAID TO THE EMPLOYEE, I DO NOT ENVISAGE ANY GENERAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE SCHOOLS, MR LI SAID.
+ IN FACT SINCE MOST SCHOOLS HAVE THE SURPLUSES I HAVE MENTIONED AND OTHER FINANCIAL RESOURCES SUCH AS 'TONG FAI' AND SINCE THERE WILL BE NATURAL WASTAGE OF STAFF DURING THE THREE- YEAR PHASING IN PERIOD, THE SCHOOLS SHOULD BE ABLE TO AVOID DECLARATIONS OF SUDDEN OR 'EN BLOC' REDUNDANCIES, HE ADDED.
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