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I hope I have said enough to reassure Members of Government's determination to continue to develop and improve our education services. In particular, I hope the Education Commission's report on Language Proficiency should address the concerns of some Members on the need to improve the language standards of our students. In this respect, I note the suggestion that we should speed up the learning of Putonghua in our schools. I agree entirely. In my policy commitments, I have already pledged that all our school children can start their formal Putonghua lessons from 1998. This timetable has been proposed to take account of the minimum two-year lead time needed for the preparation of the curriculum and publication of the new Putonghua textbooks required. But we lose no time in preparing our children; we will seek approval of a capital sum of $30 million from the Finance Committee this month, so that summer Putonghua classes will be organised in 1996, 1997 and 1998.
I should now like to respond to other specific comments made by Members.
Curriculum
A number of Members have called for broadening of the school curriculum to meet changing needs. Reviewing of the curriculum is an ongoing process. For example, an evaluation of computer subjects will take place this year to ensure that they reflect the latest technological changes and trends of computer applications. Another example is the current revision of the guidelines on civic education which will be completed in 1996. Nevertheless, I share Members' concern on the continuing need to develop our curriculum and shall pass it to the Curriculum Development Council as a timely reminder of their role in this respect.
Primary Graduate Posts
Concern has been raised about insufficient number of primary graduate posts to meet the Education Commission Report No. 5 target of such posts representing 35% of all primary teacher posts by the year 2007. The provision of graduate posts is one of the many measures Government has taken to raise the quality of primary school education. We recognise its importance. We provided 360 posts in the past two years and will provide another 300 in 1996-97. Government is aware of the possible mismatch between demand and supply of primary graduate teachers before 2007 and has set up a Working Group under the Education and Manpower Branch to consider the issue and recommend solutions. The Working Group expects to complete its review by the end of this year.