- 7-
Indicative Fee
Indicative Fee
Estimated Cost
Year
(Degree)____
(Sub-degree)
Recovery Rate
1996/97
$37,600
$28,200
16.5%
1997/98
$43,850
$32,890
18.0%
1998/99
$48,020
$36,015
18.0%
The Legislative Council passed a motion in June this year urging that tertiary tuition fees be frozen pending a review.
Having taken into account the need to strike a reasonable balance between students and the community in sharing the costs of tertiary education and the various improvement measures to the Local Student Finance Scheme, the Government has decided to maintain the cost recovery target in accordance with the established policy, but to adjust the fee increases to achieve the target more smoothly over the next three
years.
"The peak in fee increases to achieve the 18% cost recovery target is now passed," the spokesman said.
"The fees for 1995-96 represent a 28% increase over 1994-95 and from now on the indicative fees represent a decline in the rate of increase in stages to 15% increase in 1997-98 over the previous year."
The increase in fees should not cause hardship to needy students as corresponding adjustments to student financial assistance will be made.
In addition, subject to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council's approval, the Government will spend an additional $203 million on an extended loan scheme and another $122 million to improve the level of grants in connection with various improvement measures to the existing scheme to local students over the next four years.
The spokesman explained that these improvements "should help meet the possible difficulties faced by those students who marginally surpass the eligibility limit for financial assistance."
"It remains Government policy that no student should be denied access to higher education because of a lack of means," he stressed.
End/Friday, December 9, 1994