I
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994
MR PRESIDENT,
(A)
COMPLAINT CASES CONCERNING THE EXPULSION OF PUPILS ARE MOSTLY RECEIVED AFTER THE FINAL SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS EACH YEAR. SIX SUCH COMPLAINTS INVOLVING PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS AND 382 COMPLAINTS INVOLVING SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS WERE RECEIVED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BETWEEN MID-JULY AND THE END OF AUGUST 1994. DETAILS ARE GIVEN IN ANNEXES I AND II. IN ALL THESE CASES, THE DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICES ASSISTED PUPILS TO RESUME SCHOOLING EITHER IN THEIR ORIGINAL SCHOOLS OR IN OTHER SCHOOLS AS APPROPRIATE. A BREAKDOWN OF THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS BY MONTH IS NOT AVAILABLE.
(B)
(C)
IN THE 1993-94 ACADEMIC YEAR, THERE WERE 2 832 NON- ATTENDANCE CASES WITHIN THE COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE: 583 ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 893 IN KOWLOON AND 1 356 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. A DETAILED BREAKDOWN IS IN ANNEX III. THESE PUPILS DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL FOR VARIOUS REASONS. MOST OF THEM EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES IN MEETING ACADEMIC STANDARDS, AND LACKED MOTIVATION STUDY. MANY LACKED PARENTAL SUPPORT AND HAD BEHAVIOURAL OR FAMILY PROBLEMS. OF THESE 2,832 PUPILS, 557 WERE PRIMARY 1-6 PUPILS AND 2 275 WERE SECONDARY 1-3 PUPILS. THE FOLLOW-UP ACTION TAKEN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS GIVEN IN ANNEX IV.
IN
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TOGETHER HAVE TAKEN VARIOUS PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES CONCERNING DROP-OUT STUDENTS, INCLUDING THE IDENTIFICATION OF YOUTHS AT RISK AND AMENDMENT OF THE CODES OF AID FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO GIVE THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION CLEAR AUTHORITY TO DIRECT SCHOOLS TO ADMIT PUPILS.
THE SUGGESTION OF SETTING UP A PUPIL EXCHANGE NETWORK WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF FORMALISING THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS AMONG SCHOOL PRINCIPALS IN PARTICULAR DISTRICTS. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS CONSULTED ITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE PLACEMENT OF DROP-OUT PUPILS REGARDING THIS. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AGREES WITH THE COMMITTEE'S VIEW THAT THE PRESENT INFORMAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE EFFECTIVE AND IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO MAKE THEM COMPULSORY OR TO EXTEND THEM ON A TERRITORY- WIDE BASIS.
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