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carefully on more than one occasion, is satisfied that it is in
present circumstances the best possible. The salaries paid by Government are already well known amongst the Chinese community, but they are apparently not sufficiently attractive to induce young men in any number to undergo the four years course at the University at their own expense. To raise salaries would be
more expensive than the present scheme. The Commissioners state
that allowing for "wastage" the cost to Government works out at $10,000 per head. Unfortunately they do not mention how they arrive at this figure, which is nearly double that which Government is satisfied is more correct. Since the inception of the scheme the following are the figures :-
Numbers.
33 graduates teaching under the scheme
Cost to Government.
$151,515
2 non-graduates teaching in Government
schools
3,000
12 teachers dismissed, resigned, deceased
after service.
39,760
29 studentships cancelled
87,325.
$281,600
Assuming for the moment that the 29 failures are a
dead loss and adding their cost to that of the 47 teachers who, subsequent to training, actually received appointments in schools in the Colony, the average cost of the 47 works out at just under $6,000 per head. But these 29 are not all a dead loss.
Eight completed the course at their own expense and are now teaching in the Colony, two more who did not complete the course are also teaching in the Colony. Adding these ten to the 47, the average cost of 57 teachers comes to less than $5,000 each.
If European Masters are to be replaced by Chinese, it is essential
that
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