9.
In addition, $5 million has been included to upgrade another 180 teacher posts in primary schools to graduate level.
Tuming to tertiary education, the secretary said: "We will spend $8,724 million next fiscal year, which is an increase of 9% over the current year, on recurrent grants to the seven University Grants Committee-funded institutions."
"This level of funding will be sufficient to increase by 10% and 8% of the total number of under- graduates and post-graduates respectively," he said.
The University Grants Committee provision includes $257 million on academic research funded by the Research Grants Council, up 10% on 1994-95.
Mr Leung noted a large increase, of 35.4% over 1994-95, in the total expenditure by the Student Financial Assistance Agency in 1995-96.
"We will spend $813 million on grants to students under the Local Student Finance Scheme to ensure that no qualified student is denied access to tertiary education owing to lack of means," he said.
"This is a 55% increase over the current year's estimates and will cover a number of improvements to the grants approved earlier this year," he added.
A further $897 million, an increase of nearly 40% over the current year, will be spent on an improved student loans scheme and the establishment of the Extend Loan Scheme to meet the needs of those who marginally fail to qualify for the existing schemes.
Mr Leung pointed out that the average grants to students was estimated to rise by nearly 26% to $23,940, and the average loan by 9.5% to $23,600 in 1995-96.
On the employment front, the Secretary said the Government remained committed to providing a well-trained workforce, to improving their health, welfare and safety, to promoting harmonious labour relations, and to safeguarding the rights and benefits of employees.