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IV. PRIVATE SCHOOLS, RURAL DISTRICT.
Subsidized Schools-Of the 96 subsidized schools on the register at the end of 1929, 16 closed during the year, and two were transferred to the non-subsidized list; but with 15 newly subsidized schools added, the number was brought up to 93 at the end of December.
The rate of subsidies has not been changed for several years schools were subsidized with $15 to $5 per month according to their merits. 12 schools were awarded special subsidies above the ordinary scale. AL the end of the year, when it was found that there was a surplus in the $15,000 subsidies vote, a number of deserving schools were given further assistance. The Shung Tak School at Taipo Market and the Chung Him Tong School at Fanling, each received an extr $300; the school at Lim Ma Hang. $150; the two schools run by the residents of Tai O $120: Wong Kwon Hing's School at Taipo Market and the two boys' schools run by the residents of Tsuen Wan $100 each; and Kan Yiu Fong's School at Fanling Village, $60. Including these special awards, the total sub- sidies paid out during the year amounted to $14,775. It worked out to be $4.55 per pupil.
It is deeply regretted that the teachers of the Subsidized Schools at Tai Wai, Kam Tin, and Wo Hang died during the year: the last named school managed to obtain another teacher to carry on, but the other two were obliged to close for want of teachers.
Non-Subsidized Schools-During the year 44 schools were registered, and 27 closed. 15 schools were transferred to, and 2 from, the list of Subsidized Schools. The total number of Non-subsidized Schools at the end of the year was 76 (72 in 1920).
English Night School At the beginning of the year an English Night School at Taipo Market was registered, but its life was a short one.
School Buildings-The Villagers of Sheung Tam Shui Hang, Shataukok District, spared no expense to put up a very service- able school building of two storeys, and a new school was opened after the summer holidays. When building a new ancestral hall, the villagers of Sheung Yeung added a wing to the building to be used as a school, which, although limited in space, is nevertheless bright and well ventilated.
Attendance-In the Subsidized Schools, the maximum number of pupils on roll was 3,252 including 352 girls (4,247 with 352 girls in 1929). with an average attendance of 2,838. In the Non-Subsidized Schools the maximum number of pupils on roll was 1.597 including 137 girls (1,498 with 145 girls in 1929), and the average attendance was 1,825.
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Free Scholarships-There was only one applicant from subsidized schools at Tsuen Wan to compete for the three Free Places at King's College, and he was debarred by his age, being 18 years old. Two successful candidates from subsidized schools at Shatin gained admission to Yaumati Government School. Cheung Chau Government School received the full quota of three. At Taipo Government School, in addition to the three Free Places awarded to Subsidized Schools in Tai- po District, there are this year three additional places offered to schools in Sheung Shui and Fanling, but only four of the six places have been filled.
Free Railway l'asses are given to Free Scholars residing at Fanling, Sheung Shui, and Shatin for travelling to and from schools, and King's College students from Tsuen Wan have their ferry fares refunded by the Government.
30th January, 1931.
Y. P. LAW,
W. YU,
I. S. WAN,
S. W. LIANG,
Inspectors of Vernacular Schools.
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