XN000022-1972-05-24 — Page 17

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Wednesday, May 24, 1972

THREE-YEAR AIDED POST-PRIMARY EDUCATION

Position To Be Reviewed Next Year

The Director of Education, the Hon. J. Canning, said today he intended

to review the position in 1973 about the provision of three-year aided

post-primary education for children in the 12-14 years age group.

This review, he said, would enable Government to set a date for

achieving its ultimate aim of providing such education for all children in

this age-group.·

Mr. Canning was speaking in the Legislative Council in reply to the

Hon. T.K. Amn who had asked Government to give the target date by which every

child in the 12-14 age group would be assured of three years of assisted

education.

Mr. Ann had also asked Government to give its anticipated percentage

increase by the end of the next five years in the number of children in the

12-16 age group (currently 18 per cent) who would be provided with five years

of assisted secondary education leading to a Certificate of Education.

The Director said that as a first step towards achieving the ultimate

aim of providing three years post-primary education for all children in the

12-14 years age group, it was intended to provide places for 50 per cent

of this age group by 1976.

"On the basis of the 1971 Census, the number of places required by

1976 is about 157,000. About 79,100 places have already been provided in

1971-72 and it is hoped to provide a further 31,000 places in 1972-73.....

he said.

This