8
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1988
"SOME COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE THAT
THE
GOVERNMENT IS SIMPLY TRYING TO SAVE MONEY BY INTRODUCING A NEW SCHEME. THIS IS NOT ENTIRELY TRUE, THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE RATIONALE INVOLVED.
"IN THEORY, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO SAVE THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE SUBSIDY BY FORCING TRANSPORT OPERATORS TO ALLOW ALL FULL TIME STUDENTS TO TRAVEL HALF-FARE. ONE RESULT OF THIS WOULD BE FARE INCREASES FOR ALL PASSENGERS.
"WE BELIEVE IT IS MORE EQUITABLE TO PAY THE SUBSIDY FROM PUBLIC FUNDS, RATHER THAN PUTTING THE BURDEN ON THE LESS-AFFLUENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO FORM THE BULK OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT PASSENGERS, MR GODWIN SAID.
+
HE EMPHASISED THAT THE PROPOSED NEW SCHEME WAS IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S EDUCATION POLICY.
"THE PROPOSED TRAVEL SUBSIDY WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS UP TO SECONDARY THREE IRRESPECTIVE OF FAMILY FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. BEYOND SECONDARY THREE, THE SUBSIDY WILL BE AVAILABLE ΤΟ ALL WHO REALLY NEED ASSISTANCE.'
"
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION IN 1988-89 IS ESTIMATED ΤΟ REACH $11,300 MILLION, OR 18 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE.
"THE DEMAND FOR NEW AND IMPROVED PROGRAMMES IS INCREASING ALL THE TIME. THIS IS WHY THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ARE CONCERNED THAT MONEY SHOULD NOT BE SPENT WHERE IT IS NOT NEEDED.
"IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW A REDUCTION IN THE TRAVEL SUBSIDY FOR BETTER-OFF STUDENTS COULD BE INTERPRETED AS GOVERNMENT SHEDDING ITS RESPONSIBILITIES, THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT THE CASE, HE ADDED.
HE ASSURED STUDENTS THAT THE APPLICATION
SIMPLE.
PROCEDURES WILL BE
A
H
THE FORM FOR STUDENTS UP TO SECONDARY THREE WILL NO'T BE ANY MORE COMPLICATED THAN THE EXISTING APPLICATION FORM FOR THE STUDENT TRAVEL CARD.
"FOR STUDENTS ABOVE SECONDARY THREE, EXISTING FORMS WILL BE USED TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY.
H
WE DO NOT PROPOSE ANY NEW TYPES OF FORMS IN ORDER NOT TO COMPLICATE MATTERS FOR INDIVIDUAL APPLICANTS AND FOR THE GOVERNMENT,' HE STATED.
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