XN000022-1975-05-07 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1975

LACK OF MONEY RULES OUT SPECIAL STUDENT AID SCHEME

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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON. KENNETH TOPLEY, TODAY RULED OUT A PROPOSAL FOR AN EDUCATION ALLOWANCE FOR NEEDY PUPILS

3 AND 5 THIS SEPTEMBER, BECAUSE OF LACK OF ENTERING FORMS 2, 3 AND 5 THIS SEPTEMBER,

FUNDS AND ADMINSTRATIVE DIFFICULTIES.

+EVEN IF WE COULD AFFORD IT, THE SUGGESTION WOULD REPRESENT A MAJOR CHANGE OF POLICY, CUTTING ACROSS THE PROPOSALS IN THE (EDUCATION) WHITE PAPER WHICH ARE EDUCATIONALLY SOUNDER, HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON +MEASURES TO PREVENT DISCONTINUATION OF SECONDARY EDUCATION OF CHILDREN OF POORER FAMILIES.+

THE SCHEME WAS ADVOCATED BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN WHO ARGUED THAT THERE WAS A GENUINE CASE TO BE MADE OUT FOR SOME FORM OF SECONDARY ADUCATION ALLOWANCE FOR POORER FAMILIES WHO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA OF HARDSHIP AND NEED.+

MR. CHEONG-LEEN HAD SUGGESTED THAT SUCH A SCHEME SHOULD AT FIRST BE RESTRICTED TO STUDENTS ENTERING FORMS 2, 3 AND 5 IN THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR AND WHOSE MONTHLY FAMILY INCOME DID NOT EXCEED $2,000. HE HAD ENVISAGED A FLAT $25 MONTHLY ALLOWANCE OR ONE-THIRD THE SCHOOL FEE, TO BE PAID DIRECT TO THE PRIVATE SCHOOL THREE TIMES DURING THE YEAR. HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT SPECIAL CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO LARGE FAMILIES WITH A MONTHLY INCOME OF SLIGHTLY OVER $2,000 AND WHOSE EDUCATION BUDGET EXCEEDED 30 PER CENT OF THEIR INCOME.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE PRESENT LACK OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES COULD FORCE MANY POORER FAMILIES TO DISCONTINUE THEIR CHILDREN'S SECONDARY EDUCATION FROM SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.

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HE POINTED OUT THAT THE EMPLOYMENT MARKET IN THE COMING MONTHS WOULD PROBABLY BE EXPANDED BY SOME 50,000 SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS, PLUS ANOTHER 25,000 PRIMARY SCHOOL GRADULATES UNABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.

THEY WOULD EITHER HAVE TO STAY AT HOME, LOOK FOR A JOB, OR PERHAPS JOIN A YOUTH GANG TO KEEP THEMSELVES ACTIVE, HE WARNED.

IN REPLY. MR. TOPLEY SAID HE HIMSELF HAD THOUGHT OF A SIMILAR SCHEME AS THAT SUGGESTED BY MR. CHEONG-LEEN BUT HAD RECLUCTANTLY DISCARDED IT.

EXPLAINING HIS REASONS, MR. TOPLEY POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 165,000 CHILDREN IN UNASSISTED SECONDARY PLACES IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS AT PRESENT, COMPARED WITH 60,000 PUPILS IN ASSISTED PLACES.

THE MAXIMUM