XN000022-1974-03-10 — Page 3

Sunday, March 10, 1974

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At the end of this month, 3,916 places for handicapped children

in aided schools are likely to be available. During 1974-75 it is

expected that a further 5,230 places would be provided, bringing the

total of such places in aided schools to 9,146.

As regards the financial implications of the revised policy on

post-primary education, the estimated cost of providing the additional

places required after March 31, 1974 to meet the likely requirement by

March 1976 is about $40 million annually recurrent and $150 million

non-recurrent.

By March 31, 1974, 141,050 places are likely to be available

in secondary aided and assisted schools. During the next financial

year it is intended to subsidize or assist about 20,000 more places.

Since September 1, 1973, the per capita grant for three-year

bought places in 25 non-profit-making private secondary schools has

been increased from $192 to $275 a year for each bought place.

Eighty-four per cent of the per capita grant is to be used on

supplementation of qualified teachers' salaries and 16 per cent on

classroom equipment and other items of approved expenditure.

As a result 16,000 pupils in these schools will benefit from

the increased grant.

Hong Kong's capacity to adapt to changing industrial and

commercial conditions greatly depenus on the technical education expension

programme.

The government's plans in this field have already been announced.

They include the provision of four new technical institutes by 1977 in

addition to the existing one at Morrison Hill.

To cater