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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994
SLIGHTLY LOWER INCREASE IN EDUCATION EXPENDITURE EXPLAINED
THE SLIGHTLY LOWER INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE FOR EDUCATION FOR NEXT YEAR MUST BE VIEWED AGAINST THE STEADY, LONG AND STRONG GROWTH IN THE PAST YEARS AND AGAINST THE BACKGROUND THAT THE SCHOOL POPULATION HAS BEEN DROPPING SINCE 1992, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY
(WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS TO THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS, MR LEUNG POINTED OUT THAT EDUCATION HAD CLAIMED ONE-FIFTH OF THE GOVERNMENT'S RECURRENT SPENDING, THE SINGLE LARGEST ITEM FOR MANY YEARS AND THAT IT HAD GROWN AT AN AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE OF 16 PER CENT IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
ON KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION, MR LEUNG NOTED THAT MEMBERS HAD URGED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ADOPT THE TWIN APPROACH OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS AND SUBSIDISING KINDERGARTENS IN ORDER TO UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION.
THERE
"WE AGREE IN PRINCIPLE TO THIS APPROACH. BUT TO ENSURE THAT IS ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF TRAINED TEACHERS TO MEET THE SPECIFIED REQUIREMENT, AND HAVING REGARD TO RESOURCES AVAILABLE, FIRST PRIORITY MUST BE GIVEN TO TRAINING. AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED, MR LEUNG SAID.
Fr
HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION ACCEPTED THE LOGIC OF AN ARGUMENT FOR IMPLEMENTING THE SUBSIDY SCHEME EARLIER ON THE GROUND THAT WITHOUT THE SUBSIDY SCHEME, MANY KINDERGARTENS WOULD HAVE TO RAISE FEES TO RETAIN TRAINED TEACHERS, RESULTING IN INCREASED FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR PARENTS.
"BUT THE SCALE OF SUBSIDY PAYABLE AND ITS IMPACT ON INDIVIDUAL KINDERGARTEN FEES MUST BE CAREFULLY ASSESSED. THIS IS TO MINIMISE ANY ADVERSE IMPACT OF FEE INCREASES ON PARENTS AND TO ENSURE THAT THESE SUBSIDIES WOULD NOT BE TURNED INTO ADDITIONAL PROFITS.
"THESE IMPORTANT TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS ARE NOW BEING EXAMINED IN DETAIL URGENTLY SO THAT AN APPROPRIATE SCHEME CAN BE DEVISED FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
MR LEUNG SAID PROVIDED THAT THE NECESSARY APPROVAL AND FUNDING COULD BE SECURED, THE ADMINISTRATION HOPED TO INTRODUCE THE DIRECT SUBSIDY SCHEME IN THE COMING ACADEMIC YEAR FROM SEPTEMBER 1995.
"THIS MEANS THAT WE WILL BE ADVANCING THE SUBSIDY SCHEME 12 MONTHS AHEAD OF MY POLICY COMMITMENT, THIS SHOULD, I HOPE BE WELCOMED TO MEMBERS AND THOSE IN THE KINDERGARTEN SECTOR, MR LEUNG SAID.
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