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17
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1994
QUESTION:
I HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ON TERTIARY EDUCATION AND PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOOD. WELL, I WILL JUST ASK ABOUT THE TERTIARY EDUCATION, OKAY? FIRST QUESTION. WE HAVE A THREE-YEAR CURRICULUM FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION BUT MR WOO, THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROPOSED TO TURN THE CURRICULUM FROM THREE YEARS TO FOUR YEARS BUT BEFORE THAT HE HAS NEVER CONSULTED ANYBODY. SO WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON THAT?
SECONDLY, I AM A YEAR TWO STUDENT IN ONE OF THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS. THIS YEAR I HAVE TO PAY $12,100 FOR FEES WHICH IS MORE THAN THE $8,800 LAST YEAR AND SO, THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE THIS YEAR BUT FOR THE STUDENT LOAN SCHEME AND GRANT SCHEME IT REALLY CANNOT HELP US TO TIDE OVER THIS FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY. SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT?
GOVERNOR:
ON THE FIRST THE FIRST QUESTION
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QUESTIONER:
IS THAT RIGHT ON TERTIARY? WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING, INCIDENTALLY?
SOCIAL SCIENCE.
OKAY.
ON
GOVERNOR:
ON THE FIRST QUESTION, I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR CHANCELLOR WAS PROPOSING TO EXTEND YOUR COURSE FROM THREE TO YEARS.
VICE
FOUR
YOU. THEY
THE
THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE WORLD AND POLYTECHNICS VARY IN WHETHER ASK FOR THREE YEAR OR FOUR YEAR COURSES DEPENDING VERY OFTEN ON STANDARD OF THE EXAMINATIONS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE TAKE AT 18 OR 19. BUT I'LL AS THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ACTUALLY I WILL LET YOU INTO A SECRET, I AM CHANCELLOR OF ALL THE UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS IN HONG KONG, NOT THROUGH ANY PERSONAL MERIT AS THE CHANCELLOR, I WILL FIND OUT ABOUT THE PARTICULAR ISSUE THAT YOU'VE RAISED AND PERHAPS IF YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR NAME WITH ONE OF MY OFFICIALS I WILL WRITE TO YOU ABOUT IT.
WILL,
CAN I NOW TURN TO THE QUESTION OF LOANS AND GRANTS WHICH I GUESS, AFFECT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS AUDIENCE. AND I AM SURE THAT IN AN AUDIENCE OF A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS LIKE THIS IT'S GOING ΤΟ BE REALLY POPULAR TO MAKE SOME REMARKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF INCREASING FEES IN THE TERTIARY SECTOR. LET ME SKETCH OUT WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE BACKGROUND AND WHAT I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD DO ABOUT IT.
/THE YEARS