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WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1986 -
PRIVATE TUTORIAL CLASSES NOT A BIG PROBLEM
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THE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE OPERATION OF PRIVATE TUTORIAL CLASSES HAVE NOT REACHED AN EXTENT WHICH JUSTIFIES ANY CHANGE IN THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PAULINE NG, MR LEUNG SAID THE PROBLEMS COULD BE MORE APPROPRIATELY DEALT WITH BY MAKING THE PUBLIC MORE AWARE OF WHAT COULD BE PROPERLY EXPECTED FROM PRIVATE TUTORIAL CLASSES AND OF THE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC BOTH FROM THE CONSUMER COUNCIL AND THE DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICES OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
HE NOTED THAT ALL REGISTERED SCHOOLS, INCLUDING PRIVATE TUTORIAL CLASSES WHICH FELL WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE WERE SUPERVISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT THROUGH REGULAR INSPECTIONS.
THIS INCLUDED THE INVESTIGATION OF ANY COMPLAINTS RECEIVED AND REMEDIAL ACTION REQUIRED, HE SAID.
DEFINING A SCHOOL IN THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE, MR LEUNG SAID THAT IT WAS AN INSTITUTION, ORGANISATION OR ESTABLISHMENT WHICH PROVIDES EDUCATION FOR 20 OR MORE PERSONS DURING ANY ONE DAY, WHETHER OR NOT AT THE SAME TIME.+
HE POINTED OUT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S SUPERVISION BY AMENDING THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE SO THAT REGISTRATION UNDER THE ORDINANCE WAS REQUIRED FOR INSTITUTIONS PROVIDING EDUCATION FOR A SMALLER NUMBER OF PERSONS.
+TO DO SO, HOWEVER, WOULD RESULT IN A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN THE SUPERVISORY COMMITMENTS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, WITH THE CONSEQUENTIAL NEED FOR INCREASED STAFFING RESOURCES.
+BEFORE SUCH A STEP IS TAKEN THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO BE CONVINCED THAT THE EXISTING PROBLEMS JUSTIFIED SUCH INCREASED EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, OR THAT THE PROBLEMS COULD NOT BE RESOLVED BY OTHER MEANS, MR LEUNG SAID.
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